July 31, 2011
- wizard (noun)
- \WIZ-erd\

- What does it mean?
- 1 : a person skilled in magic : sorcerer, magician2 : a very clever or skillful person
- How do you use it?
- Today is the birthday of author J.K. Rowling and the birthday she assigned to her famous fictional character, the boy wizard Harry Potter.
- Are you a word wiz?
What do you think the root word of "wizard" means?
You're wise to us if you chose A. The roots of "wizard" stretch back to the Old English word "wis" meaning "wise." English speakers used "wis" to form "wysard," which eventually became "wizard." "Wizard" is related to "wisdom" and "wise," both of which also trace to "wis." "Wiz" and "whiz" are shortened forms of "wizard." So when we tell you that you're a word wiz, it also means you're word wise!

