wizardn.adj.
/ˈwɪzəd/, U.S. /ˈwɪzərd/ A. n.† 1. A philosopher, sage: = wise man n. 2. Often contemptuous. Obsolete.The second quot. may belong to sense A. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > wisdom, sagacity > wise man, sage > [noun]
wise manc888
wisec897
witec900
snoterc950
divinera1387
sage1399
mage?a1425
wisdom1432
wizardc1440
sapientc1550
Solomon1554
oracle1579
sophy1587
Solon1631
sapientipotent1656
magus1700
wiseacre1753
sageshipa1832
Yoda1984
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 530/1 Wysard (K. wysar), sagaculus.
?a1500 Chester Pl., Coming of Antichrist 371 Antechristus. Out on the [sc. Enoch], wyseard [v.rr. rasarde, roysarde], with thy wyles! For falcsely my people thou begyles.
1547 W. Baldwin Treat. Morall Phylos. i. i. sig. A.ii The Gretians..haue therin taken great paynes, naming it first Sophia, and suche as therin were skilled Sophistes or wysardes.
1594 1st Pt. Raigne Selimus sig. B3 Perhaps you thinke that now forsooth you sit With some graue wisard in a pratling shade.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. xii. sig. L6v Therefore the antique wisards well inuented, That Venus of the fomy sea was bred. View more context for this quotation
1602 B. Jonson Poetaster iv. v. sig. H2 Alb. I haue read in a Booke, that to play the Foole wisely, is high wisdome. Gall. How now, Vulcan! will you be the first Wizard ? View more context for this quotation
1676 Doctr. of Devils 56 The Politicians, the Philosophers, the Wizers of the World.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 139 First the wily Wizard [sc. Proteus] must be caught, For unconstrain'd he nothing tells for naught. View more context for this quotation
1841 W. Spalding Italy & Ital. Islands II. 99 Two young philosophers and wizards, called Phidias and Praxiteles.
2. † d. A professional conjuror. U.S. Obsolete.
a. A man who is skilled in occult arts; in later use, a man who practises witchcraft (the male counterpart of witch n.): = wise man n. 3.†Occasionally applied to a woman.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > sorcerer or magician > [noun]
wielerOE
jugglera1100
wielea1350
magicianc1375
sorcerc1400
warlockc1400
mage?a1425
sorcerer1526
witch-mana1538
wizarda1557
wise man1562
cunning man1594
man-witch1601
wonder-master1603
sorcerist1624
talisman1646
ob1659
fascinator1677
varlet1701
Magian1716
brujo1758
mediciner1845
bomoh1851
pellar1865
trollman1865
baloi1871
magic-man1905
Wiccan1971
a1557 J. Cheke tr. Gospel St. Matthew (1843) ii. 1 When Jesus was boorn in beethleem.., lo then ye wisards cam from th'est parties to Jerusalem.
1562 Certayn Serm. preached in Lincs. in H. Latimer 27 Serm. ii. f. 100v Whan we be in trouble, or sicknes, or lose any thing: we runne hither and thither to wyssardes, or sorcerers, whome we call wyse men.
c1574 G. Harvey Marginalia (1913) 163 Owr vulgar Astrologers, especially such, as ar commonly termed Cunning men or Artsmen. Sum call them wissards.
1596 in J. Stuart Misc. Spalding Club (1841) I. 84 Sche is convick..as a common weser and socerer, and ordint to be brunt.
1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars 237 Yet to none was he more spitefully bent than to wiseards and Astrologers.
1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy ii. i. i. i. 289 Sorcerers are too common, Cunning men, Wisards, & white-witches, as they call them, in every village.
1645 J. Milton On Christ's Nativity: Hymn iv, in Poems 2 The Star-led Wisards haste with odours sweet.
1675 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Odysses xi. 138 I was forc't to come T'inquire of th' Wizard, old Tiresias, What the Fates say about my going home.
1735 J. Swift Author upon Himself in Wks. II. 344 Clowns on Scholars as on Wizards look, And take a Folio for a conj'ring Book.
1751 Tryal T. Collet (ed. 3) 3 A large Mob..at Tring..declaring Revenge against Osborne and his Wife, as a Witch and a Vizard.
1825 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 942 In July, 1825, a man was ‘swam for a wizard’, at Wickham-Skeith, in Suffolk.
1861 H. Mayhew London Labour (new ed.) III. 107/1 I call myself a wizard as well; but that's only the polite term for conjurer; in fact, I should think that wizard meant an astrologer, and more of a fortune-teller.
1872 C. Hardwick Trad., Superstitions, & Folk-lore 133 A wizard who had wrought sad havoc amongst his neighbour's cattle.
1897 F. Thompson New Poems 113 To dower her, past an eastern wizard's dreams.
b. transferred and figurative: esp. a man who ‘does wonders’ in his profession: in recent use often trivially applied to an expert. Also frequently as financial wizard, a person skilled in making money, or in organizing financial affairs. the Wizard of the North, Sir Walter Scott.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > skilful person > exceptionally skilled person
wizard1620
virtuoso1682
jumbo1823
ace1840
crackerjack1895
mivvy1906
whizz1914
whizzo1977
society > leisure > the arts > literature > writer or author > [noun] > Sir Walter Scott
the Wizard of the North1869
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > [noun] > money-dealer > capitalist or financier > other capitalists or financiers
angel1885
financial wizard1952
venture capitalist1971
vulture capitalist1978
1620 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes 2nd Pt. Don Quixote xxxi. 201 I haue heard my Master say, who is the very Wizard of Histories,..when he came [etc.].
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna vi. xxiii. 139 The choicest winds of Heaven, which are inchanted To music, by the wand of Solitude, That wizard wild.
1858 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 15 June in French & Ital. Notebks. (1980) v. 317 Gerard Duow, and other old Dutch wizards who painted..such earthern jugs that they will surely hold water.
1869 R. Walton Random Recoll. Midland Circuit 134 Fortunately the ‘Wizard of the North’ came upon the spot [sc. Kenilworth], and ‘Henceforth’ (as a modern historian has it) ‘the ruined place was to be sanctified [etc.]’.
1874 L. Stephen Hours in Libr. 1st Ser. 218 Some reason for suspecting that the great ‘Wizard’ has lost some of his magic power.
1893 Ladies' Home Jrnl. May 27/2 Sir Walter Scott was called ‘The Wizard of the North’.
1903 Westm. Gaz. 31 Aug. 7/2 The wizard of yacht-building.
1952 G. Sarton Hist. Sci. I. xix. 471 The eunuch, Hermeias, who began his career as a money-changer, was a kind of financial wizard and became very wealthy and powerful.
1967 G. F. Fiennes I tried to run Railway v. 58 I had energy..to be the financial wizard on the parochial church council.
1975 Times 24 May 4/7 Judge Kennet..noted that Mr Tzour had been noted as a financial wizard.
c. A witch-doctor or medicine-man.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > healer > alternative practitioner > [noun] > using magic
ophiogenes1601
piai1613
witch doctor1718
dukun1817
piaiman1825
wizard1845
doctor1846
mganga1860
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > non-European magic (miscellaneous) > [noun] > sorcerer or medicine man
fetisheer1613
witch doctor1718
gris-gris man1788
medicine man1801
wizard1845
inyanga1862
moloi1871
goofer1887
trick-doctor1889
1845 C. Darwin Jrnl. (ed. 2) x. 214 Each family or tribe has a wizard or conjuring doctor.
1889 H. R. Haggard Allan's Wife 28 This man..had for some years occupied the position of Wizard-in-chief to the tribe.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > legerdemain, etc. > [noun] > juggler or conjurer
jugglera1100
tregetour1340
hey-passa1593
prestigiator1595
baffler1606
feat-worker1617
hocus-pocus1624
hocus1647
chirosophist1652
fascinator1677
legerdemain1696
prestidigitator1712
conjurer1727
sleight-of-hand man1757
nimble-fingers1781
sleight-of-hand professor1801
legerdemainist1830
magician1834
illusionist1850
jongleura1851
wizard1859
deceptionist1883
mentalist1906
1859 F. C. L. Wraxall tr. J. E. Robert-Houdin Mem. II. iv. 108 On my arrival in England, a conjuror of the name of Anderson, who assumed the title of Great Wizard of The North, had been performing for a long period at the little Strand Theatre.
1895 N.Y. Dramatic News 14 Dec. 6/1 The wonderful record established at the California theatre by Hermann the Great..has finally been broken..[by] the wonderful wizard [himself].
B. adj.
1. Having the powers or properties of a wizard; that practises wizardry; hence gen. having magical or witching power or influence.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > sorcerer or magician > [adjective] > having powers of
warlocka1400
wizard1579
1579 E. Hake Newes out of Powles Churchyarde newly Renued vi. sig. F4 v O wylie wincking wyzard Woolues.
1649 H. Hammond Christians Obligations vi. 145 That wizard flesh within us, that hath thus bewitch'd us to its false pleasures.
1679 J. Dryden & N. Lee Oedipus iv. 55 Thou blind old wizard Prophet.
1747 W. Collins Odes 26 Beyond the Measure vast of Thought, The Works, the Wizzard Time has wrought!
1747 W. Collins Odes 41 Some Pow'r..At which the Wizzard Passions fly.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho IV. xii. 229 Or in some shadowy glen's romantic bow'r, Where wizard forms their mystic charms prepare.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Witch of Atlas xxvi, in Posthumous Poems (1824) 37 All day the wizard lady sat aloof Spelling out scrolls of dread antiquity.
1835 E. Bulwer-Lytton Rienzi II. iii. ii. 28 These wild and wizard extremes of life.
1897 Daily News 14 June 5/3 The artificial production of diamonds by the wizard chemist of to-day.
2.
a. Of, pertaining to, or associated with wizards or wizardry; hence gen. magic, enchanted, bewitched.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > [adjective]
witchOE
wielfulc1275
magica1393
superstitiousc1425
diabolic1485
magicala1492
prestigious?1534
sorcerous1546
witching1567
wizardly1588
wizard1638
stoicheiotical1646
witchcraftical1676
maleficious1684
Arabian-night1808
Magian1818
wizard-like1859
1638 J. Milton Lycidas in Obsequies 21 in Justa Edouardo King Nor on the shaggie top of Mona high, Nor yet where Deva spreads her wisard stream.
c1796 W. Roscoe in R. Burns Wks. (1800) I. 343 And let Despair, with wizard light, Disclose the yawning gulf below.
1808 W. Scott Marmion iii. xx. 153 Lord Gifford..tarried not his garb to change, But, in his wizard habit strange, Came forth.
1813 W. Scott Bridal of Triermain iii. xxv. 169 The wizard song at distance died As if in ether borne astray.
1817 T. Moore Lalla Rookh ii. 221 Those tow'rs sublime,..Were sever'd from the haunts of men By a wide, deep, and wizard glen.
c1820 S. Rogers Interview in Italy 194 Tasso, Guarini, waved their wizard-wands, Peopling the groves from Arcady.
1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam cxx. 189 The wizard lightnings deeply glow. View more context for this quotation
1918 N. Munro Jaunty Jock ii. 20 It was like as they were in some wizard fortress cut from rock.
b. slang. Excellent, marvellous, very good.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective]
faireOE
bremea1000
goodlyOE
goodfulc1275
noblec1300
pricec1300
specialc1325
gentlec1330
fine?c1335
singulara1340
thrivena1350
thriven and throa1350
gaya1375
properc1380
before-passinga1382
daintiful1393
principala1398
gradelya1400
burlyc1400
daintyc1400
thrivingc1400
voundec1400
virtuousc1425
hathelc1440
curiousc1475
singlerc1500
beautiful1502
rare?a1534
gallant1539
eximious1547
jolly1548
egregious?c1550
jellyc1560
goodlike1562
brawc1565
of worth1576
brave?1577
surprising1580
finger-licking1584
admirablea1586
excellinga1586
ambrosial1598
sublimated1603
excellent1604
valiant1604
fabulous1609
pure1609
starryc1610
topgallant1613
lovely1614
soaringa1616
twanging1616
preclarent1623
primea1637
prestantious1638
splendid1644
sterling1647
licking1648
spankinga1666
rattling1690
tearing1693
famous1695
capital1713
yrare1737
pure and —1742
daisy1757
immense1762
elegant1764
super-extra1774
trimming1778
grand1781
gallows1789
budgeree1793
crack1793
dandy1794
first rate1799
smick-smack1802
severe1805
neat1806
swell1810
stamming1814
divine1818
great1818
slap-up1823
slapping1825
high-grade1826
supernacular1828
heavenly1831
jam-up1832
slick1833
rip-roaring1834
boss1836
lummy1838
flash1840
slap1840
tall1840
high-graded1841
awful1843
way up1843
exalting1844
hot1845
ripsnorting1846
clipping1848
stupendous1848
stunning1849
raving1850
shrewd1851
jammy1853
slashing1854
rip-staving1856
ripping1858
screaming1859
up to dick1863
nifty1865
premier cru1866
slap-bang1866
clinking1868
marvellous1868
rorty1868
terrific1871
spiffing1872
all wool and a yard wide1882
gorgeous1883
nailing1883
stellar1883
gaudy1884
fizzing1885
réussi1885
ding-dong1887
jim-dandy1888
extra-special1889
yum-yum1890
out of sight1891
outasight1893
smooth1893
corking1895
large1895
super1895
hot dog1896
to die for1898
yummy1899
deevy1900
peachy1900
hi1901
v.g.1901
v.h.c.1901
divvy1903
doozy1903
game ball1905
goodo1905
bosker1906
crackerjack1910
smashinga1911
jake1914
keen1914
posh1914
bobby-dazzling1915
juicy1916
pie on1916
jakeloo1919
snodger1919
whizz-bang1920
wicked1920
four-star1921
wow1921
Rolls-Royce1922
whizz-bang1922
wizard1922
barry1923
nummy1923
ripe1923
shrieking1926
crazy1927
righteous1930
marvy1932
cool1933
plenty1933
brahmaa1935
smoking1934
solid1935
mellow1936
groovy1937
tough1937
bottler1938
fantastic1938
readyc1938
ridge1938
super-duper1938
extraordinaire1940
rumpty1940
sharp1940
dodger1941
grouse1941
perfecto1941
pipperoo1945
real gone1946
bosting1947
supersonic1947
whizzo1948
neato1951
peachy-keen1951
ridgey-dite1953
ridgy-didge1953
top1953
whizzing1953
badass1955
wild1955
belting1956
magic1956
bitching1957
swinging1958
ridiculous1959
a treat1959
fab1961
bad-assed1962
uptight1962
diggish1963
cracker1964
marv1964
radical1964
bakgat1965
unreal1965
pearly1966
together1968
safe1970
bad1971
brilliant1971
fabby1971
schmick1972
butt-kicking1973
ripper1973
Tiffany1973
bodacious1976
rad1976
kif1978
awesome1979
death1979
killer1979
fly1980
shiok1980
stonking1980
brill1981
dope1981
to die1982
mint1982
epic1983
kicking1983
fabbo1984
mega1985
ill1986
posho1989
pukka1991
lovely jubbly1992
awesomesauce2001
nang2002
bess2006
amazeballs2009
boasty2009
daebak2009
beaut2013
1922 S. Lewis Babbitt xvii. 216 The Rev. Dr. John Jennison Drew..is a wizard soul-winner.
1932 E. Waugh Black Mischief vii. 277 They..righted themselves and stopped dead within a few feet of danger. ‘Wizard show that,’ remarked the pilot.
1943 J. B. Priestley Daylight on Sat. i. 1 The roofs are nicely camouflaged, and the stiff coloured netting..is a wizard show.
1954 ‘R. Crompton’ William & Moon Rocket i. 27 ‘Wizard,’ said William. ‘Super,’ said Ginger.
1958 ‘R. Crompton’ William's Television Show vii. 189 Gosh, that party of Ginger's last Christmas was wizard.
a1966 ‘M. na Gopaleen’ Best of Myles (1968) 25 How awfully wizard being at the theatre with you!
1974 Times 17 Aug. 7/3 ‘How wizard!’ they said... ‘How absolutely super!’
Compounds
C1. attributive and in other combinations, as wizard-craft, wizard-finder, wizard-man, wizard-swarm; wizard-woven adj.
ΚΠ
1819 P. B. Shelley tr. J. W. von Goethe Scenes from Faust ii. 210 Wizard-swarms cover the heath all over.
a1821 J. Keats Otho iii. ii, in R. M. Milnes Life, Lett. & Lit. Remains Keats (1848) II. 156 If he flames longer in this wise I shall believe in wizard-woven loves.
1876 H. Brooks Natal 334 The wizard-finder is not unfrequently turned to account by the stronger men of a tribe.
1891 R. Kipling Life's Handicap 277 He went to Juseen Dazé, the wizard-man who keeps the Talking Monkey's Head.
1897 Folk-Lore Mar. 53 Wizardcraft has the same ultimate origin as..the fairy belief.
C2.
wizard-like adj. = wizardly adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > [adjective]
witchOE
wielfulc1275
magica1393
superstitiousc1425
diabolic1485
magicala1492
prestigious?1534
sorcerous1546
witching1567
wizardly1588
wizard1638
stoicheiotical1646
witchcraftical1676
maleficious1684
Arabian-night1808
Magian1818
wizard-like1859
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. v. 116 I know you are fond of queer, wizard-like stories.
Derivatives
ˈwizardess n. a female wizard, witch.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > sorcerer or magician > witch > [noun]
walkyrieOE
witchOE
hagc1230
strya1300
wise woman1382
sorceressc1384
luller14..
tylyester14..
chantressc1425
magicienne1490
gyre-carline1535
witch-womana1538
eye-biter1584
beldama1586
witch-wife1591
cunning woman1594
saga?a1600
magha1609
magicianess1651
hag-witcha1658
haggard1658
besom-rider1664
wizardess1789
fly-by-night1796
lucky1827
bruja1829
weird-woman1845
hex1856
Baba Yaga1857
pishogue1906
witcher1928
1789 H. Walpole Let. to Mrs. H. More 9 Aug. I wish my Macbethian wizardess would tell me ‘that Cowslip Dale should come to Strawberry Hill’.
1866 Cornhill Mag. Mar. 353 It was vaguely left to force the belief, that on this occasion our basket either carried a distinguished wizardess, or..a wondrous medium.
ˈwizardism n. wizardry.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > [noun]
wielingeOE
wielOE
craftOE
witchcraftOE
witchdomOE
telingc1230
demerlaykc1275
dweomercraeftc1275
sorcerya1300
magicc1387
maleficec1390
jugglerya1400
precination1503
witchery1546
maleficiousness1547
prestigiation?c1550
wizardry1583
magie1592
dark art1613
prestigion1635
conjurement1645
magomancy1652
wizardism1682
thaumaturgy1727
warlockry1818
witchwork1827
brujería1838
wizardship1882
trolldom1891
mojo1923
pixie dust1951
witchering1956
old religion1964
1682 W. Richards Wallography 96 The study of Wizzardism hath also been famous amongst them.
1726 D. Defoe Polit. Hist. Devil ii. ix. 345 Whether Wizardism made them ugly, that were not so before.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > [adjective] > practising
juggling?1531
sorcerous1551
sorcering1583
wizardizing1603
conjuring1845
1603 S. Harsnett Declar. Popish Impostures xxi. 135 Wisardizing Augurs, imposturizing South-sayers.
ˈwizardship n. wizardry.Apparently an isolated use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > [noun]
wielingeOE
wielOE
craftOE
witchcraftOE
witchdomOE
telingc1230
demerlaykc1275
dweomercraeftc1275
sorcerya1300
magicc1387
maleficec1390
jugglerya1400
precination1503
witchery1546
maleficiousness1547
prestigiation?c1550
wizardry1583
magie1592
dark art1613
prestigion1635
conjurement1645
magomancy1652
wizardism1682
thaumaturgy1727
warlockry1818
witchwork1827
brujería1838
wizardship1882
trolldom1891
mojo1923
pixie dust1951
witchering1956
old religion1964
1882 M. Collins Cobwebs II. 252 Vansit~tart had learned the secrets of wizardship during his travels.
Draft additions December 2005
Computing. A program that guides a user through a procedure by means of a sequence of simple on-screen instructions and options.
ΚΠ
1992 MacUser Nov. (verso front cover) We'd like you to meet Wizards, step-by-step guides that are designed to walk you through complex tasks.
1996 Web Developer Nov. 52/1 The program's report generation also includes a dozen standard reports and a wizard for generating customized reports.
2003 Internet Advisor Nov. 40/3 Check the Add to current Web box and click OK, then let the wizard walk you through database and page setup.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
wizardv.
/ˈwɪzəd/, U.S. /ˈwɪzərd/ rare.† 1. transitive. To call ‘wizard’. Obsolete.Apparently an isolated use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > sorcerer or magician > [verb (transitive)] > call or influence by a sorcerer
wizard1603
bewizard1862
1603 C. Heydon Def. Iudiciall Astrol. iii. 111 If M. Chamber had considered that Aristotle and the Grecians had their chiefe knowledge from these nations that were Astrologers, he could neuer (for shame) haue wisarded them.
1603 C. Heydon Def. Iudiciall Astrol. vi. 179.
2. To practise wizardry upon, to bewitch; to drive away as by magic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > enchantment or casting spells > [verb (transitive)]
bigaleOE
biwihelea1225
bewitchc1225
witchc1300
sigalder1303
bichantc1330
becharm1340
enchant1377
charmc1380
forspeakc1440
ensorte1477
encharm1480
conjurea1535
ensorcell1589
fascinate1603
spell1646
maleficiate1651
to cast the glamour over one?17..
maleficate1701
spell-bind1808
makutu1825
trick1829
glamour1832
bespell1894
wizard1898
to put the fluence on1909
effascinate-
1898 A. Austin Lamia's Winter-quarters 61 The last lingering trails of mist were gradually wizarded away.
1900 Folk-Lore (1901) June 177 If yah be a wizard, wizard me.
Derivatives
ˈwizarding n. the practice of wizardry, witchcraft, or magic art.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > [noun] > action of practising
witchingOE
jugglingc1380
sorcering1614
wizarding1668
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. 337 Those..cheating Arts of Manteia or Wizarding, with which the world always hath been..abused.
1924 Blackwood's Mag. Nov. 650/1 When the people think that the wizard half of him is not sufficiently potent in spells, they get to wizarding on their own account.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.adj.c1440
v.1603