magi

The word 'magi' has a rich journey from ancient Persia to modern English. It originates from the Old Persian plural 'magush', denoting a member of the priestly and learned class of the Medes and Persians. The term passed into Greek as 'magos' (plural: magoi), where it began to acquire connotations of sorcery and astrology, before being adopted into Latin with the same spelling and meaning. In English, its primary meaning was shaped by the Gospel of Matthew, which uses the Greek term 'magoi' to describe the wise, gift-bearing visitors from the East, cementing its association with learned astrologers and wise men in the Christian tradition.

The word 'magi' is a direct borrowing from Latin, which itself borrowed it from Greek, ultimately from an Old Persian plural form for a member of the priestly caste. It functions as a plural noun in English.