I would say 'redundant.' Unless you have a complex magical system, 'magician' and 'wizard' are different words for the same thing. You could probably also toss 'sorcerer' and 'mage' into the mix.
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Can A Wizard Be Female?
- Thread starter Ruby
- Start date
I would say 'redundant.' Unless you have a complex magical system, 'magician' and 'wizard' are different words for the same thing. You could probably also toss 'sorcerer' and 'mage' into the mix.
I'm glad Devor brought up the etymology.
Wizard: late Middle English (in the sense ‘philosopher, sage’): from wise + -ard.
Warlock: Old English wǣrloga ‘traitor, scoundrel, monster,’ also ‘the Devil,’ from wǣr ‘covenant’ + an element related to lēogan ‘belie, deny.’ From its application to the Devil, the word was transferred in Middle English to a person in league with the devil, and hence a sorcerer. (Super cool etymology btw)
Witch: Old English wicca (masculine), wicce (feminine), wiccian (verb); current senses of the verb are probably a shortening of bewitch.
Completely different roots. I wouldn't mind 'wizard' at all, regardless, and it's not necessarily a bad thing if she breaks the wizard mold, in fact it could be a very good thing! Technically, the only requirement is that she be/come wise.
Wizard: late Middle English (in the sense ‘philosopher, sage’): from wise + -ard.
Warlock: Old English wǣrloga ‘traitor, scoundrel, monster,’ also ‘the Devil,’ from wǣr ‘covenant’ + an element related to lēogan ‘belie, deny.’ From its application to the Devil, the word was transferred in Middle English to a person in league with the devil, and hence a sorcerer. (Super cool etymology btw)
Witch: Old English wicca (masculine), wicce (feminine), wiccian (verb); current senses of the verb are probably a shortening of bewitch.
Completely different roots. I wouldn't mind 'wizard' at all, regardless, and it's not necessarily a bad thing if she breaks the wizard mold, in fact it could be a very good thing! Technically, the only requirement is that she be/come wise.
No. I'm not sure what is your distinction between the two words, but your original question was specific to wizard because that word tends to connote a male. "Magician" otoh, is pretty much gender neutral.
But even if magicians in your world are usually male, my advice would still apply. Establish the character as female first, then let the reader know she is a wizard and a magician. After that, it's all about the reactions from other characters. They might be amazed, outraged, fearful, or they might merely shrug and move on. It depends on how you want to play it.
But if you say "wizard" first and only later say AND she's a girl! -- that's when you make it a problem for your reader.
Russ
Dark Lord
I am not sure about that.
To me a magician is someone who performs tricks through slight of hand etc, but all within the realm of what we know with the normal laws of our day to day lives.
A wizard, to me, is someone who is actually causing effects that go beyond what we understand to be the laws of nature.
I think you could use both terms, and be both things, if you think about them in that way.
Miskatonic
Dark Lord
Sorceress always had a nice ring to it.
Laurence
Mystagogue
I think the witch/wizard route in Harry Potter worked really well for the purpose of having an extra range of descriptors.
E.g.
The female wizards went to one end of the corridor and the male wizards, the other.
The witches went to one end of the corridor and the wizards, the other.
E.g.
The female wizards went to one end of the corridor and the male wizards, the other.
The witches went to one end of the corridor and the wizards, the other.
TheKillerBs
Mystagogue
You can use boys and girls, men and women, or guys and gals to the exact same effect without limiting the words wizard and witch to a given sex.
In my world, I use "wizard" to mean a certain level of magical study, and "mage" to denote a higher achievement in the magical arts. So, both words are used for persons of either gender who achieve that "ranking" and there isn't a difference between how a person would apply that title. "Mary was a third-tier elemental mage, but John was only a wizard of the elemental sphere".
Also, I use "witch" entirely differently. A witch in my world is in reference to the sort of earthy spell-casting that is similar to modern practicing pagans, but with more tangible results. So, they can brew potions and cast love spells and wards, but they can't shoot fire from their eyes or something.
I guess I use words like wizard and mage as titles, like Dr. or whatever. It's a title bestowed by a mage council, and if a person has the ability to use magic, but they don't go to school and prove them self... well, they're nothing. Just a guy who can do some magic. No title for that. You gotta earn your little letters, like folks who earn a doctorate.
Also, I use "witch" entirely differently. A witch in my world is in reference to the sort of earthy spell-casting that is similar to modern practicing pagans, but with more tangible results. So, they can brew potions and cast love spells and wards, but they can't shoot fire from their eyes or something.
I guess I use words like wizard and mage as titles, like Dr. or whatever. It's a title bestowed by a mage council, and if a person has the ability to use magic, but they don't go to school and prove them self... well, they're nothing. Just a guy who can do some magic. No title for that. You gotta earn your little letters, like folks who earn a doctorate.