wizard
noun
- character class in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game
adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L342552 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈwɪz.əːd/ / [ˈwɪz.əːd] / /ˈwɪz.ɚd/
adj
Etymology: From Middle English wysard, wysarde, equivalent to wise + -ard. A uniquely medieval Anglo-Saxon word with no known morphologically exact cognates inside the Germanic family; did not gain distinct sense of "occultist, magic user" (as opposed to a philosopher or sage) until circa 1500s, aligning roughly with the starting English Renaissance. However, via Proto-Indo-European *weyd- cognate with Proto-Celtic *druwits (whence English druid), Proto-Slavic *vědьma (Polish wiedźma, Russian ве́дьма (védʹma)), Russian веду́н (vedún). The sense of "old (male) virgin" is from a Japanese Internet meme in which virgins who are typically friendless, shy outcasts and loners who don't fit in anywhere legendarily gain magical powers upon reaching 30 years of age; popularized ultimately by 4chan and adjacent online incel spaces. Compare typologically specialist (<< Latin speciō).
- Fine, superb (originally RAF slang).
“"We had a wizard show," the young leader of an Australian squadron said, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice.”
“But he was a wizard flyer, that boy.”
noun
Etymology: From Middle English wysard, wysarde, equivalent to wise + -ard. A uniquely medieval Anglo-Saxon word with no known morphologically exact cognates inside the Germanic family; did not gain distinct sense of "occultist, magic user" (as opposed to a philosopher or sage) until circa 1500s, aligning roughly with the starting English Renaissance. However, via Proto-Indo-European *weyd- cognate with Proto-Celtic *druwits (whence English druid), Proto-Slavic *vědьma (Polish wiedźma, Russian ве́дьма (védʹma)), Russian веду́н (vedún). The sense of "old (male) virgin" is from a Japanese Internet meme in which virgins who are typically friendless, shy outcasts and loners who don't fit in anywhere legendarily gain magical powers upon reaching 30 years of age; popularized ultimately by 4chan and adjacent online incel spaces. Compare typologically specialist (<< Latin speciō).
- Someone, usually male, who uses (or has skill with) magic, mystic items, and magical and mystical practices.
“The wizard conjured up a large fireball.”
“The wily wizard must be caught.”
- One who is especially skilled or unusually talented in a particular field.
“He was a financial wizard, capable of predicting the movements of the stock markets.”
- A computer program or script used to simplify complex operations, often for an inexperienced user.
“Use the "Add Network Connection" wizard to connect to a network in a series of simple steps.”
“Figure 10-10 shows a typical wizard. The user enters data in New Employee on each tab and then moves on to the next one. This wizard asks […]”
- An administrator of a multi-user dungeon, or someone who has earned similar rights through gameplay; a user in wizard mode.
“Wizards, in general, have a very different experience of mudding than other players. Because of their palpable and extensive extra powers over other players, and because of their special role in MUD society, they are frequently treated differently[…]”
“It is certainly easy to believe the stories I hear of MUD wizards who demand deference and severely punish those who transgress […]”
- A wise man; a sage.
“See how from far upon the eastern road / The star-led wizards [Magi] haste with odours sweet!”
- A virgin over the age of 30 who does not socialize and thus cannot find a sexual partner.
““I see this image of the basement-dwelling wizard who rejects societal conventions to such an extreme degree as one of the tragic heroes of our times.””
“The incels’ folk hero is the 30-year-old virgin wizard – if you can make it to 30 without having sex, you will be endowed with magical powers. And the threads are so pathetic that it is hard to feel anything but ambient pity (on the site Wiz Chan – subtitle “disregard females, acquire magic” – one thread titled How do I live in my sedan? is like a short story).”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English wysard, wysarde, equivalent to wise + -ard. A uniquely medieval Anglo-Saxon word with no known morphologically exact cognates inside the Germanic family; did not gain distinct sense of "occultist, magic user" (as opposed to a philosopher or sage) until circa 1500s, aligning roughly with the starting English Renaissance. However, via Proto-Indo-European *weyd- cognate with Proto-Celtic *druwits (whence English druid), Proto-Slavic *vědьma (Polish wiedźma, Russian ве́дьма (védʹma)), Russian веду́н (vedún). The sense of "old (male) virgin" is from a Japanese Internet meme in which virgins who are typically friendless, shy outcasts and loners who don't fit in anywhere legendarily gain magical powers upon reaching 30 years of age; popularized ultimately by 4chan and adjacent online incel spaces. Compare typologically specialist (<< Latin speciō).
- To practice wizardry.
- To conjure.