DEFINITIONS
The
2019 WORD
OF THE YEAR is...

Magi

[ mey-jahy ]
/ ˈmeɪ dʒaɪ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR Magi ON THESAURUS.COM

plural noun, singular Ma·gus [mey-guh s] /ˈmeɪ gəs/

(sometimes lowercase) the wise men, generally assumed to be three in number, who paid homage to the infant Jesus. Matt. 2:1–12.Compare Balthazar(def 1), Caspar(def 1), Melchior(def 1).
(sometimes lowercase) the class of Zoroastrian priests in ancient Media and Persia, reputed to possess supernatural powers.
(lowercase) astrologers.

Content related to Magi

Humanitarian, Sublimate, And Other Trending Words On Dictionary.comFrom Glenn Close at the Golden Globes to Cyntoia Brown in Tennessee, here's who (and what) had folks searching for meaning on Dictionary.com this week.
READ MORE

Words related to Magi

wizard, sage, seer, magician

Origin of Magi

see origin at Magus

OTHER WORDS FROM Magi

Ma·gi·an [mey-jee-uh n] /ˈmeɪ dʒi ən/, adjective

Definition for magi (2 of 2)

Magus
[ mey-guh s ]
/ ˈmeɪ gəs /

noun, plural Ma·gi [mey-jahy] /ˈmeɪ dʒaɪ/.

(sometimes lowercase) one of the Magi.
(lowercase) a magician, sorcerer, or astrologer.
(sometimes lowercase) a Zoroastrian priest.Compare Magi(def 2).

Origin of Magus

1615–25; < Latin < Greek mágos < Old Persian maguŝ; compare Avestan moγu
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for magi

British Dictionary definitions for magi (1 of 3)

magi
/ (ˈmeɪdʒaɪ) /

pl n singular magus (ˈmeɪɡəs)

the Zoroastrian priests of the ancient Medes and Persians
the three magi the wise men from the East who came to do homage to the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:1–12) and traditionally called Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar

Derived forms of magi

magian (ˈmeɪdʒɪən), adjective

British Dictionary definitions for magi (2 of 3)

magus
/ (ˈmeɪɡəs) /

noun plural magi (ˈmeɪdʒaɪ)

a Zoroastrian priest
an astrologer, sorcerer, or magician of ancient times

Word Origin for magus

C14: from Latin, from Greek magos, from Old Persian magus magician

British Dictionary definitions for magi (3 of 3)

Magus
/ (ˈmeɪɡəs) /

noun

Simon Magus New Testament a sorcerer who tried to buy spiritual powers from the apostles (Acts 8:9-24)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Culture definitions for magi

Magi
[ (may-jeye) ]

The sages who visited Jesus soon after his birth. (See Wise Men.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.