ENGLISH
REFERENCE

mage

n. countable
C2 Proficiency UK //mˈeɪdʒ// mage Archaic

n. a person who has great knowledge or magical powers. You usually see this word in fantasy books, movies, or games to describe a powerful wizard.

n. a person of exceptional wisdom or one possessing supernatural powers. Often used in fantasy literature or gaming contexts; historically associated with the Zoroastrian priestly caste.


SIMPLE

The powerful mage cast a spell to protect the village.

CONTEXTUAL

In many role-playing games, the mage is a character class that relies on intelligence and magical energy rather than physical strength.

COMPLEX

The ancient scrolls describe a lone mage who once balanced the elemental forces of the world through sheer force of will and arcane study.

Origin

From Middle English mages (plurale tantum), from Latin magus, from Ancient Greek Μάγος (Mágos), from the hapax Old Persian 𐎶𐎦𐎢𐏁 (m-gu-u-š /⁠maguš⁠/). Doublet of magus.

Usage

Commonly used in fantasy fiction and gaming; archaic or literary in general prose.

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