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	], from the British mythology surrounding ], is an example of a well-known, traditional literary wizard.]]

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

	==Etymology==

	During the ], the term "wizard" referred to "], sage", from ] ''wysard'' (from ''wys'' "wise" and the ''-ard'' suffix also in ''drunkard'' etc.) The semantic restriction to "sorcerer, magician" occurred in the 16th century. They have historical roots in the ]s and the ].

	==Derived Uses==

	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 "computer wizard".{{ref\|jargon}} ''Wizard'' is also a ] term for an expert ] player (cf. The Who's song '']''). (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").

	In ] games, a ''wizard'' is a member of the world-building staff.

	==Related terms==

	] had ]s (''seidmen'') tied up and left on a skerry at ebb.]]

	In most cases there is little to differentiate a wizard from similar fictional and folkloric practitioners of magic such as an ], a ], a sorcerer, 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.

	The ever-shifting chaos of fantasy writing has, of course, muddled the meaning of each term, but they should never be stuck with a single meaning, for they change depending upon where they're found.

	'']'' Third Edition, for example, 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 thus: "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."

	In ]'s ] books, "wizard" has essentially the common usage meaning. The eighth son of an eighth son has more magical powers and will normally become a wizard, while a Sourcerer is a wizard squared (an eighth son of an eighth son of an eighth son) and is a "source of magic" who can create new spells and is immensely more powerful. During the series only one sourcerer has appeared (in ]) and in due course nearly brought about the end of the world.
	Pratchett also comically refers to the word's etymology, claiming in one of his footnotes that the word "wizard" originated from the ancient "wyz-ars", meaning "someone who, at bottom, is very smart." A pun, of course, on "wise-arse".

	Tom Cross describes a Wizard as one who understands and seeks to protect ]; both his or her own Nature, and the Nature of the whole Universe. The abilities of a Wizard come from the rhythms of Nature, centered around the ].

	In the writings of ], a Wizard is simply a Self-Realized person (see ]), who recognizes itself (and consequently its ability) as limitless.

	] makes Wizards out to be emmissaries of the One (see ]), who take an Oath to use powers beyond the comprehension of a non-wizard in the service of Life, to keep ], personnified as the Lone Power, under control.

	==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.
	* The ] - four wizards of ancient Greek myths.
	* ] - ] god of magic.
	* ] - An ] wizard suggested by scholars to be the original ].
	* The wizard in ] of ].
	* ] - the leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
	* ] - the grand wizard of ]

	==Wizards in Fiction==
	Famous wizards in folklore and fiction include:
	* ] - the famous wizard in ]'s '']''.
	* 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. See ].
	* ], ], ], ] 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 ] or ].
	* ] from ]'s '']'' and its sequels.
	* ] from the video game ].
	*] from the ] series is the most famous wizard (called a mage, or magic-user) in the series.
	* In ], wizards are numerous, and can normally be found in the ].
	*In ], the dark wizard ] is a playable character, and probably the strongest

	==Real-Life Wizards==

	In history, there have been several real people who are or were believed to be wizards, sorcerers, etc. Examples include:
	* ] a magician, occult writer, and an alchemist.
	* ] 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 ].
	* ], and his granddaughter, ], said to have the ability to foretell the future and help (or doom) sailors at sea.
	* ], the Earl of Desmond, was a ] wizard, whose spirit is said to still haunt the living.
	* ], he could supposedly do amazing feats by conversing with spirits.
	* ],
	* ],
	*],
	* ],
	* ],
	* ],
	* And the ]
	Have all been referred to as Wizards because of their state of mind, known as Self-Realization.

	==References==
	* {{note\|jargon}} '''' in the ], and its
	* {{note\|penn}} ''The Dragonfighters of Kulamain'', ISBN 1-4116-4568-5

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Latest revision as of 16:24, 26 August 2018

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Magician (fantasy)