wizard
pronunciation
How to pronounce wizard in British English:
UK [ˈwɪzəd]
How to pronounce wizard in American English:
US [ˈwɪzərd]
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- Noun:
- someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
- one who practices magic or sorcery
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- Adjective:
- possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers
Word Origin
- wizard
- wizard: [15] A wizard is etymologically a ‘wise’ man – indeed originally the word was used for ‘philosopher’ or ‘sage’, without any suggestion of magical practices. It was derived from wise. The distinction between philosophy and magic was sufficiently blurred in the Middle Ages for the sense ‘magician’ to emerge in the 16th century, and that is the one which has prevailed.=> wise
- wizard (n.)
- early 15c., "philosopher, sage," from Middle English wys "wise" (see wise (adj.)) + -ard. Compare Lithuanian zynyste "magic," zynys "sorcerer," zyne "witch," all from zinoti "to know." The ground sense is perhaps "to know the future." The meaning "one with magical power, one proficient in the occult sciences" did not emerge distinctly until c. 1550, the distinction between philosophy and magic being blurred in the Middle Ages. As a slang word meaning "excellent" it is recorded from 1922.
Antonym
Example
- 1. Did this mean he wasn 't a proper wizard ?
- 2. He had never been in a wizard house before .
- 3. Its gift is great ; the wizard can see it all .
- 4. But felton came to the defence of his wizard friend when he appeared at an nec exhibition in birmingham .
- 5. She secretly wrote stories on her work computer and daydreamed about a teenage wizard named harry potter .