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], from '']'', is an example of a well-known, traditionally literary wizard.]]

A '''wizard''' (from 'wise') is a practitioner of ], especially in ], ], and fantasy ]. In popular use in ] ] it was used to denote a helpful male folk magican, a ] as they were usually called, and the male equivalent of a ]. The word does not generally apply to ]s, or to ]s (properly termed illusionists) like ], ], or ].

They have historical roots in the ]s.

Colloquially anyone who is especially adept at some obscure or difficult endeavor may be referred to as a ''wizard.'' For instance someone who is particularly skilled with computers might be referred to as a "programming wizard." (However, normal usage applies more specialized superlatives to specific fields of endeavor, thus a musician is more likely to be called a "]" than a "wizard").

==Related terms==

In most cases there is little to differentiate a wizard from similar fictional and folkloric practitioners of magic such as an ], a ], a ], a ], or a ], but specific authors and works use the names with narrower meanings. When such distinctions are made, sorcerers are more often practitioners of ]s or ], and there may be variations on level and type of power associated with each name.

'']'' Third Edition distinguishes between the sorcerer and wizard ]es as follows:
* "Sorcerers create ] the way ]s create poems, with inborn talent honed by practice."
* "Wizards depend on intensive study to create their magic... For a wizard, magic is not a talent but a deliberate rewarding art."

]'s '']'' describes the distinction thusly: "The difference between a wizard and a sorcerer is comparable to that between, say, a lion and a tiger, but wizards are acutely status-conscious, and to them, it's more like the difference between a lion and a dead kitten."

==Myths and Legends==

Wizards found in old fairy tales and myths include:
* ] - an ], but in some versions of the tale also a magician.
* ], the famous wizard from ]s and their modern retellings.
* ] is the famous wizard in ]'s '']''.
* The ], four wizards of ancient Greek myths.
* ], ] god of magic.
* The wizard in ] of ].

==Fiction==

], from the '']'' series, is another famous literary wizard.]]

Famous wizards in folklore and fantasy fiction (sometimes both) include:
* ] is a wizard, also known as a ] and ], from the ] series, which was created by ].
* ] - created by ] as a leading character for '']'' series of fantasy novels (also called 'Belgarath the Sorcerer').
* ] the Inescapable, ] the Marvelous, and others - from ]'s '']'' stories.
* ] is the wizard that helped ] in the ] ] series created by ] and produced by the ] ] ].
* The Dean of ] in ]'s '']'' series is not named, but is a senior wizard and recurring character.
* ] is a wizard ] and Sorcerer Supreme in the ]. ] is the ] equivalent.
* ] - featured in many of the ] fantasy novels and RPGs.
* ] of Melniboné - often called a sorcerer or a wizard - from ]'s ''Elric of Melniboné'' and its sequels.
* ] is the mortal avatar of the god ] from the ] fantasy novels.
* ], ], ], ] and ] - from ] '']'' - are called ], but are really supernatural entities. In the Middle-earth legendarium, "wizard" is a term applied only to the five members of the ]; the term "wizard" could never be applied to a human, and a human magic user is simply called a sorcerer.
* ] is a major wizard in the world of ], which was created by ] and ].
<!--* ], ], ], ], and all other non-] male characters from ]'s '']'' and its sequels. (The females are ]es).-->
* ] ("a dealer in magic and spells") - the eponymous ] of ]'s ], who also features in two books by ].
* ] was a very powerful mage in the ] ] series. Other mages in ] include ], ], ], ] and ] among (many) others
* ] - protagonist of ]'s ''The Lord of Middle Air'' - a historical figure and an ancestor of the author!
* ] was the ]ous wizard of the first ] game.
* ] was the greatest wizard in the ] ] series by ].
* ], as a master of the ], has some wizard-like attributes in ]' ] films: "That wizard's just a crazy old man" said ] to ] in '']''.
* ] is the Head of Inadvisably Applied Magic at ] in ]'s '']'' novels.
* ] (also known as Milamber) is the wizard ] of the ] ] by ].
* ] - Archancellor of ] throughout most of ]'s '']'' series.
*] and ] are the sorcerous advisors for ], in ] ] series. They are (apparently) unhuman, and they aid (in other words, complicate the lives of) the two rogue heroes.
* ] - strictly a "Wizzard" (it says so on his hat) and the wizards of ] - from many of ]'s '']'' novels.
* ], an evil entity from author ]'s works, occasionally appears as a wizard, notably in the novel '']''.
* ], the ]ian wizard who gives ] and the ] their powers.
* ] or ] - from ]'s '']'' and its sequels.
* ], the young wizard in the '']'' comic by ] and others.
* ] in '']'', ] in '']'' and ] in '']'' are examples of evil wizards from the stories about ] by ].

]) from ]]]

The eponymous character of ]'s '']'' is a stage magician pretending to be a genuine wizard; in the ] the wizard was also a fake. However, in later Oz stories, he studies magic with ] and becomes a genuine wizard.

In some fictional and game settings, ''wizard'' or a similar term is the name for a "race" or species, not just a job description. For example:

* The five ] in ''The Lord of the Rings'' (also mentioned above)
* "]s" in the video game series ](some games)
* "]" in the TV show ]

=="Real-Life" Wizards==


In history, there have been several real people who are popularly believed, or who claimed to be, wizards, sorcerers, etc. Examples include:
* ] is a controversial figure, the most famous "modern wizard," who is believed to have coined the alternate spelling, "]."
* ], whose magical powers were said to come from angels.
* John Diamond, and his granddaughter, Molly Pitcher, were supposed to have the ability to foretell the future and help (or doom) sailors at sea.
* ], the Earl of Desmond, was said to be a shapeshifter wizard, whose spirit is said to still haunt the living.
* ], though he is really more of an alchemist.
* ] may have been fictional, though those who claim his reality say he could do amazing feats by conversing with spirits.

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Latest revision as of 16:24, 26 August 2018

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