magic

Where does the word "magic" come from? It comes from Old Persian magush, passing through Greek, Late Latin and Old French before entering English (late 1300s).

Magic’s story begins in Old Persian: magush meant “member of the priestly class.” Named a member of the learned, priestly Magi caste. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Greek as magikos / magike. Greek writers turned the Magi's reputed powers into an adjective for sorcery. From there it passed into Late Latin as magice by ancient. Carried the sense of sorcery into Latin. Old French picked it up next, as magique, around 1300s. Passed into French as both noun and adjective. It reached English by late 1300s as magic. Settled into English describing hidden supernatural forces, later also stage illusion. Today, magic means the power of apparently influencing events using supernatural forces, or the practice of conjuring tricks for entertainment.

1. Stage 1 · Old Persian · ancient magush "member of the priestly class", named a member of the learned, priestly Magi caste.
2. Stage 2 · Greek · ancient magikos / magike "of the Magi, sorcery", Greek writers turned the Magi's reputed powers into an adjective for sorcery.
3. Stage 3 · Late Latin · ancient magice "sorcery", carried the sense of sorcery into Latin.
4. Stage 4 · Old French · 1300s magique "magical, sorcery", passed into French as both noun and adjective.
5. Stage 5 · English · late 1300s magic "art of influencing events by hidden forces", settled into English describing hidden supernatural forces, later also stage illusion.