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magique

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Etymology and origin of the French word magique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1265 Brunetto Latini, Trésor More words from the 13th century
Borrowed from
Latin magicus
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek μάγος
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Ancient Greek μάγος (mágos)
Latin magus
English mage
English magus
Italian mago
Ancient Greek μαγικός (magikós)
Latin magicus
French magique
Romanian magic
Italian magico
The word's journey
From the same root
Ancient Greek μαγεύω (mageúō) ← μάγος

Pronunciation

Forms

magique (plural magiques)[1] Old French magike;[2] Middle French also magicque.[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin magicus (“magic, of magic”),[2][3][4][1][5] itself borrowed from Ancient Greek μαγικός (magikós),[2][3][1] from μάγος (mágos, “magus”) (see mage).[4][6] Littré compares Old Occitan magic and Italian magico.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is art magike “sorcery” in the Trésor of Brunetto Latini (about 1265), who says that Zoroaster discovered the magic art of enchantments.[2][6]

Semantic evolution

In the 15th century art magique meant the devil's art, witchcraft (1427).[2] In the 16th century the adjective came to qualify anything partaking of magic: Ronsard (1555) and Du Bellay (1558) use it so.[2] From 1604 it is said of what has a secret and extraordinary power, and in the 17th and 18th centuries, figuratively, of what produces wonderful effects or enchants.[2][4][7]

Several technical phrases are recorded: carré magique (1680), lanterne magique (1685), miroir magique (1694), baguette magique (1812).[4] In anthropology the adjective describes a way of thinking that is pre-logical, as in pensée magique.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 1265 – Brunetto Latini writes art magike.[2][6]
  • 1427 – The Journal d'un Bourgeois de Paris uses art magique for witchcraft.[2]
  • 1555 – Ronsard uses magicque of a spell.[2]
  • 1604 – Montchrestien uses it of a secret, extraordinary power.[2]
  • 1680 – Richelet records carré magique.[4]
  • 1685 – Furetière records lanterne magique.[4]
  • 1812 – Baguette magique is recorded by Mozin.[4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of or relating to magic; produced or used by magic: pouvoir magique, formules magiques, baguette magique “magic wand”.[7][2][4][6]
  2. (anthropology) Of a pre-logical way of thinking: pensée magique.[7]
  3. In which magic or the irrational plays a large part.[7][2]
  4. (figurative) Producing extraordinary effects; enchanting, bewitching: La forêt avait sous la neige un air magique. “Under the snow the forest looked magical.”[7][6][2]
  5. Lanterne magique: a magic lantern.[7][4][6]

Word family

  • magiquement

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 6/1, 25b
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Magique.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/magique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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