Middle English Dictionary Entry
māges n. plural
Entry Info
| Forms | māges n. plural Also magi. |
| Etymology | L māgī, pl. of māgus; also cp. OF mague. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Men skilled in occult knowledge; astrologers, philosophers, sorcerers.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)7073,7074 : Maþþew..seȝȝþ Þatt ta Kalldisskenn kingess..Wærenn Magy ȝehatenn, & Magy sinndenn alle þa Þatt follȝhenn defless crafftess, Driȝmenn, weppmenn & wifmenn ec, Þatt follȝhenn wicche crafftess.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.81 : Wyse men þat tyme Maistres & lettred men Magy hem called.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)25309 : Þis ilke mages, pellite he hight, He cuth knau þoru foghles flight And ek yitte þoru þe curs of sternes Of þinges comande.
- a1450 3 KCol.(1) (Roy 18.A.10)49/9 : Seynt Austyn seiþ þat þis word Magi in þe tung of Chaldee is a moche to seye as a Philosophre in þe tunge of grewe.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)95 : We callen þe magis þoo þat calculun bi þe sternis þingis to cum.