Magus

American  

[mey-guhs] / ˈmeɪ gəs /

noun

plural

Magi

1. (sometimes lowercase) one of the Magi.

2. (lowercase) a magician, sorcerer, or astrologer.

3. (sometimes lowercase) a Zoroastrian priest.

---

magus ¹ British  

/ ˈmeɪɡəs /

noun

1. a Zoroastrian priest

2. an astrologer, sorcerer, or magician of ancient times

---

Magus ² British  

/ ˈmeɪɡəs /

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of Magus

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

Explanation

A magus is a follower of Zoroastrianism, an ancient religion. You can also use magus to mean "magician" or "wise man." In ancient Persia, a Zoroastrian priest (or a member of that particular caste) was a magus. The word's meaning grew to include practitioners of astrology and magic, but in English its plural form, magi, is most commonly used for the three wise men, or magi, who are described visiting Jesus in the Bible. Magus means "magician" in Latin, and its roots go back to the Old Persian magush, also "magician."

Example Sentences

“It is quintessential,” Magus co-owner Hanna McElroy laughs.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 20, 2022

After spending almost two decades shepherding Magus Books into the 21st century, Weimer and McElroy have undertaken a new project: On Oct.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 20, 2022

While Magus feels like it somehow has a copy of every single book ever published crammed inside its walls, the annex feels breezier, and more primed for discovery.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 20, 2022

Weimer says with some satisfaction that customers frequently walk in to Magus “and they say ‘I went to college here in 1982, and the store still smells the same and looks the same.’

From Seattle Times • Dec. 20, 2022

There was, however, in Samaria at that time, a man named Simon Magus, who pretended himself to be the expected Messiah.

From "Granny's Chapters" (on scriptural subjects) by Ross, Lady Mary