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