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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 witch ] and is sometimes described as a male version of a witch, especially in ], ], and fantasy ]. In popular use during ] ], "wizard" was used to denote a helpful male folk magician, 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'' (such as "computer wizard",<ref>'''' in the ], and its </ref> or The Who's song '']'').

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

	==Related terms==

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

	Incidentally, many people consider 'wizard' to be the masculine form of 'witch', but this is usually incorrect.

	The ever-shifting chaos of fantasy writing has, of course, muddled the meaning of each term, so 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) 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". (See Also: ])

	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.

	] describes wizards as emmissaries of "the One" (see ]), who take an ] to use powers beyond the comprehension of a non-wizard in the service of ], to keep ], personified as a Lone Power, under control and therefore delay the demise of the ]. They are said to still exist in the present day, but due to negative public perception, work undercover.

	==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.
	* The wizard in ] of ].
	* ] - the leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
	* ] - the grand wizard of ]
	* ] - An ] wizard suggested by scholar ] to be the original ].

	==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 ].
	* All male magic-users from ]'s '']'' and its sequels.
	* In the '']'' series by ], wizards are numerous, and can normally be found in the ]. One of the predominant wizards in the series is ].

	== Wizards claimants ==

	Numerous people have stated that they were wizards, or were commonly beleived to be so at the time. The "Atsinganoi", early ] as described in the time of ] <ref> Issue 31</ref>, ] occult writer and alchemist, and the controversial figure ] are among examples of these.

	==References==
	<references />
	<!-- Dead note "penn": ''The Dragonfighters of Kulamain'', ISBN 1-4116-4568-5 -->

	==See also==
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Latest revision as of 16:24, 26 August 2018

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Magician (fantasy)