Magus

[ mey-guh s ]
/ ˈmeɪ gəs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR Magus ON THESAURUS.COM

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).

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Origin of Magus

1615–25; < Latin < Greek mágos < Old Persian maguŝ; compare Avestan moγu

Definition for magus (2 of 2)

Magi
[ mey-jahy ]
/ ˈmeɪ dʒaɪ /

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.

Origin of Magi

see origin at Magus

OTHER WORDS FROM Magi

Ma·gi·an [mey-jee-uh n] /ˈmeɪ dʒi ən/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to magus

wizard, sage, seer, magician, magi

Example sentences from the Web for magus

British Dictionary definitions for magus (1 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 magus (2 of 3)

Magus
/ (ˈmeɪɡəs) /

noun

Simon Magus New Testament a sorcerer who tried to buy spiritual powers from the apostles (Acts 8:9-24)

British Dictionary definitions for magus (3 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
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

Cultural definitions for magus

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.