Where does “magically” come from?
Magically derives from English magic, from Middle English magyk and magik, from Latin magicus, from Ancient Greek μαγικός, ultimately from μάγος meaning a magus or sorcerer.
magically (English): In a magical manner; by magic, or as if by magic
Definitions
- In a magical manner; by magic, or as if by magic
Ancestry of “magically”, 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 |