English
magician
Magician comes from Middle French magicien, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- ‘to be able’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*megʰ-‘to be able’root as named · steps between not traced
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600magicien
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘magician, mage’
- Englishearliest quotation 2014magician
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*megʰ-‘to be able’root as named · steps between not traced
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600magicien
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘magician, mage’
- Englishearliest quotation 2014magician
Earliest quotation: 2014, Magician’s brain: “The truth is that [Isaac] Newton was very much…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- ‘to be able’
may, might, main, mechanism, mechanical, yay, mechanic, mower, dismay, mecha, machinist, mage, magus, yayo, 78 more
Today it means
noun A person who plays with or practices allegedly supernatural magic.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- / magician