The word ‘wizard’ is derived from the Middle English word ‘wys’ (meaning wise) and the suffix ‘-ard.’ Therefore, a wizard was basically a wise man, up until around the middle of the 16th century AD. Prior to this period, the distinction between magic and philosophy was blurred.

It was only after the 1550s that the word ‘wizard’ gained its present meaning, i.e. one who has magical abilities. In this sense, the word ‘wizard’ may be used interchangeably with such words as ‘sorcerer,’ ‘magician,’ ‘warlock,’ ‘sorceress,’ (female) and ‘witch’ (female).

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The Wizard card. (OffbeatWorlds /CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)