Magiann.adj.
/ˈmeɪdʒɪən/, U.S. /ˈmeɪdʒ(i)ən/ A. n.
1. Any one of the three Magi (magus n. 1).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > non-European magic (miscellaneous) > [noun] > magus
Magian1548
magus1555
mage1585
magusian1587
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. ii. 7 He..geueth commaundement..to the Magians..that they shulde go to Bethleem.
1578 Bk. Common Prayer in Bible (Geneva) sig. aiiiv The Magians as vpon this day..worshipped Christ.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature (1831) IV. xxii. 228 His star appeared in the East, filling the Magians there with exceeding great joy.
1927 A. H. McNeile Introd. New Test. 9 This is taught..in the worship offered by the Magians to Him that was born King of the Jews.
2. A follower of or believer in the magi (magus n. 2a); a magus; a magician or wizard.
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
1716 H. Prideaux Old & New Test. Connected I. iv. 221 It is not to be understood that all Magians, that is, all of the Sect were thus learned.
1817 Ld. Byron Manfred ii. iv. 31 A Magian of great power, and fearful skill!
1861 G. Smith Lect. Mod. Hist. 61 It little avails the king to rule the people if the Magian is to rule the king.
1877 Outlines Hist. Relig. 165 The Magians were..a pre-Semitic and pre-Aryan priestly tribe in West Asia.
1904 W. M. Ramsay Lett. to Seven Churches ix. 100 A Roman Proconsul in Cyprus had a Magian as his friend and teacher in science.
1950 R. G. Kent Old Persian 120/1 There was one man, a Magian, Gaumata by name.
1988 Jrnl. Semitic Stud. 33 66 These leaders represent the Christians, Jews, Sabaceans, Magians etc.
B. adj.† 2. poetic. Magical. Obsolete. rare.
1. Of or relating to the magi or their beliefs (magus n. 2a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > non-European magic (miscellaneous) > [adjective] > of or relating to magi
Magian1716
1716 H. Prideaux Old & New Test. Connected I. iv. 216 Another reformation which he [sc. Zoroaster] made in the Magian religion, was [etc.].
1796 Bp. R. Watson Apol. for Bible 160 Addicted to the magian superstition of two independent Beings.
1875 J. B. Lightfoot St. Paul's Epist. Colossians 151 It was then..that the magian system took root in Asia Minor.
1890 G. C. Macaulay tr. Herodotus Hist. I. 54 This dream he delivered over to the Magian interpreters of dreams.
1928 Manch. Guardian Weekly 27 July 74/2 The magnetic incidence of his epithets and the stellar truth of his imagery are not so much magic as magian.
1938 E. Bevan Symbolism & Belief iii. 71 Spengler, in his book, The Decline of the West, gives the whole group the name of ‘Magian’ religions.
1975 R. Davies World of Wonders (1977) ii. vii. 287 Spengler talks a great deal about what he calls the Magian World View, which he says we have lost, but which was part of the Weltanschauung..of the Middle Ages.
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
1818 J. Keats Endymion iii. 118 Will he..keep me as a chosen food to draw His magian fish through hated fire and flame?
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.adj.1548