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	<!--A "classic" wizard picture would be helpful here. A computer wizard with a fantasy wizard on his/her computer screen, would be best. (A painting of Merlin is down by his reference under Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends, so some "other" choice would be preferable.-->

	{{wiktionarypar\|wizard}}
	{{wiktionarypar\|sage}}
	A '''wizard ''' is a skilled or clever person, with the implication of ] less commonly known.

	During the ], the term "wizard" referred to a ] or ].

	Semantically, the distinction between having knowledge and the active use of that knowledge is the difference between a and a ] (literally: a user of magic).

	Such a person is thus noted as being ] to the ], and utilization of such knowledge is often called ] by ].

	Anyone who is especially adept or talented in such utilization may be referred to as a wizard (such as a "computer wizard"<ref>'''' in the ], and its </ref>, or in reference to the eponymous character in The Who's song '']''), and its utilization called wizardry.

	In modern colloquial usage, a wizard is often seen as a practitioner of supernatural ], such as found in ], ], ]-], and ].

	<br>

	==Wizards in Fiction==
	{{Seealso\|List of magicians in fiction}}

	The archetypical wizard is the ]. In works of fiction, this kind of character is typically represented by a kind and wise, older father-type figure who uses personal knowledge of people and the world, to help tell stories and offer guidance, that in a mystical way illuminate to his audience a sense of who they are and who they might become. The wise old man is often in some way "foreign", that is, from a different culture, nation, or occasionally, even a different time, than those he advises.

	===], ]s and ]s===
	{{expandsect}}
	], from the ] surrounding ], is an example of a well-known wizard.]]
	* ] - the famous wizard from ] and their modern retellings.
	* The wizard in the ] of .
	* The ] - four wizards of ancient Greek myths.
	* ] - the grand wizard of ]

	===Wizards in ]===
	{{seealso\|:Category:Characters in written fantasy}}
	* 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 beings called ]. In ], "wizard" is a term applied only to the five members of the ]. While other practitioners of magic exist in Middle-earth (good <i>and</i> evil), they are never referred to as wizards.
	*Ogion and ] (Sparrowhawk) from ]'s '']'' book series, the most well-known of which is '']'', first published in ].
	* All male magic-users from ]'s '']'' and its sequels are called wizards. (Note that female practicioners of magic are called ].)
	* In the '']'' series by ], wizards are numerous, and can normally be found in the ]. One of the predominant wizards in the series is ].
	* ] 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.
	*The Wizards of Skyhall Trilogy is a three book series, about twelve-year-old antihero turned hero, Arianna Kelt, a reformed thief and wizard seer. It is set in J. R. King's imaginary land of Skyhall.

	===Wizards in ]===
	{{main\|Wizard (character class)}}

	====]====
	{{main\|Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)}}
	In the '']'' ], the wizard is one of the base ]. A wizard is an ] user, and weak in ] combat. Wizards spend several years studying magic.

	The magic system--where wizards memorize spells which they then forget when they cast them--was heavily influenced by the '']'' stories and novels of ].

	== Historical Wizard claimants ==
	{{seealso\|List of occultists\|alchemist\|shaman\|sorcerer\|warlock\|witch}}
	{{expandsect}}
	A wizard, in this case, is a person who claims to be skilled in arts considered hidden or arcane.

	Throughout history, there have been many who have claimed that to have secret knowledge, meant having great, often supernatural, ]. Some claimed to know ] (literally, "hidden") techniques that they felt could be of great aid.

	Perhaps the oldest example of this is the knowledge of the making and tending of ]<ref>http://www.highbeam.com/ref/doc3.asp?docid=1E1:fire and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3670017.stm</ref>, a secret jealously guarded.

	It should be noted that a person being attributed alleged magical power does not necessarily indicate the person is a wizard.

	Some historical figures have also had magical powers attributed to them by legends and in fiction, with their actual abilities lost or unknown.

	In modern semantical use, the distinguishing aspect for wizards from other ]s is that their abilities were based off of ''knowledge'', rather than faith. This is not to say that wizards did not invoke religion, but it was usually done through secret techniques and rituals as opposed to only prayer (See also ] and ]).

	==]==

	] wisard : wise, wise. see ; + , pejorative suffix;<ref> - The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. </ref> Indo-European root:

	==References==
	<references />


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Latest revision as of 16:24, 26 August 2018

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Magician (fantasy)