Where does “magical” come from?
Magical comes from English magic, derived from Latin magicus, from Ancient Greek μαγικός, the adjective form of μάγος, meaning a member of the Median priestly caste.
magical (English): Of or relating to magic; Enchanting
Definitions
- Of or relating to magic; Enchanting
Ancestry of “magical”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | magic | The application of rituals or actions, especially... |
| 2 | Middle English | magyk | Alternative form of magik |
| 3 | Old French | magique | — |
| 4 | Latin | magicus | magic, magical |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | μαγικός | magical |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Μάγος | magician, and derogatorily sorcerer, trickster,... |
| 7 | Old Persian | 𐎶𐎦𐏁 | priest |
| 8 | Proto-Iranian | magúš | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | magʰúš | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | megʰ-ú-s | — |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | megʰ- | to be able |
Words derived from “magical”