# Difference between a Sorcerer and a Wizard? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 8, 2002, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879 "2002-07-08T06:47:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/1 "2002-07-08T06:47:18Z")
Well, my question is as the title says. IS there any difference between a “Sorcerer” and a “Wizard”? Besides the fact that “sorcerer” sounds cooler? And…is there a feminine version of “Wizard,” or is “Sorceress” the best there is? Well, thanks for your time, Ranchoth ---
**Author:** ![robwrigley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@robwrigley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robwrigley)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/2 "2002-07-08T07:10:19Z")
Mostly just nation of origin: Sorceror is derivide from French, Wizard from Old English. They both mean pretty much the same thing. Unless your playing D&D. Rob ---
**Author:** ![kgriffey79](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@kgriffey79](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kgriffey79)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/3 "2002-07-08T07:12:59Z")
NOT ACCORDING TO [WWW.DICTIONARY.COM](http://WWW.DICTIONARY.COM) 1.sor·cer·er Pronunciation Key (sôrsr-r) n. One who practices sorcery; a wizard. 2.wiz·ard Pronunciation Key (wzrd) n. One who practices magic; a sorcerer or magician. A skilled or clever person: a wizard at math. Archaic. A sage. …but these two words are used heavily in fantasy, and nothing in fantasy is really set. They differ from story to story, game to game, and in each person’s mind. ---
**Author:** ![Phlint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c89c15/32.png) [@Phlint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlint)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/4 "2002-07-08T07:20:30Z")
Well, since your question is about something fictional (I’m making the assumption that you don’t mean “wizard” as in someone that is very good at performing a task), the answer would depend upon which author of the fiction you want. In 3rd edition AD&D(that pencil and paper roleplaying game) there is a difference between the two, mainly in the way they use their spells. I’ve never actually played AD&D, but i believe a wizard has to sit down and memorize a spell each time they’d like to cast it, and forget the spell immediately after use, whereas a sorcerer can repeatedly cast the same spells, but has a more limited selection than the wizard. If you’re talking about fantasy literature (Tolkien, Salvator, Eddings, Jordan, Goodkind, whoever the hell wrote those Harry Potter books, etc.) there are far too many viewpoints from the various authors for me to want to list, it’s all a matter of the writer’s view of the genre. As to a female wizard, why not wizardess? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/5 "2002-07-08T07:21:41Z")
Sorcerers cast based on Charisma, and Wizards on Intelegence. Boccob’s Eye, man, do you know nothing? ^\_\_~ ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/6 "2002-07-08T07:22:52Z")
Dammit…took 1 minute to compose a post, and I’m beaten to it. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/7 "2002-07-08T07:24:44Z")
Perhaps one could differentiate by their origins: Wizard comes ultimately from `wish`, literally a wish-ard, one who makes wishes reality. Sorcerer descends from the word `sort`, in its sense of destiny, fate, lot, so is in effect somebody who can control fate, alter a person`s destiny. Myself, I prefer the word `warlock`, from the Old English word `waer`, covenant, ie somebody who makes a covenant with the devil. ---
**Author:** ![robwrigley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@robwrigley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robwrigley)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/8 "2002-07-08T07:42:08Z")
aldi…was that a joke? Wizard is derived from the same word as “wise”. It is old english/germanic for “wise one”…or perhabs, “wiseguy”. Sorceror is derived frome an old french word for ‘fate’…I think it means something along the line of ‘seer’ or ‘prophet’ Warlock actually menas “oath breaker” or “covenant breaker”…presumably ones covenant with God. Rob ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/9 "2002-07-08T09:17:59Z")
To a wizard a trick’s jus a trick, but to a sorceror tricks usually starts with rouxs. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/10 "2002-07-08T09:56:20Z")
To paraphrase the great Terry Pratchett: the word Wizard come from the ancient word Wiz-Ars, meaning literally ‘One who is, at the bottom of it all, Wise’ Terry also has Sourcerers (note spelling) who actually create magic (they are a source of magic) rather than merely use it like wizards do ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/11 "2002-07-08T10:20:57Z")
> [@](#): > > In 3rd edition AD&D(that pencil and paper roleplaying game) Ain’t no such thing. There’s 3rd edition D&D, but no 3rd edition AD&D. Wizards of the Coast apparently decided to merge the two games into one when they came out with the d20 system. [http://www.darkshire.org/~jhkim/rpg/reviews/dnd3\_ph.html](http://www.darkshire.org/~jhkim/rpg/reviews/dnd3_ph.html) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/12 "2002-07-08T18:26:00Z")
It’s not so much that they merged the games, but that non-Advanced D&D hadn’t been made for so many years, they figured that the A in the name was just worthless information. Just for a brief rundown, in Tolkien, “wizard” is used to translate “istari”, which has a similar “wise” etymolygy, and used of Gandalf and his ilk. “Sorcery”, on the other hand, is black art, which can, potentially be used by anyone. In D&D 3E, wizards are “book mages”, who use their intelligence to go through the arcane procedures outlined in their spellbooks, whereas sorcerers have inherent magical ability, shaped by their own force of will or personality. In several computer/video games I’ve seen, a sorcerer specifically deals with flashy, unsubtle magic like fireballs and lightning bolts, which mostly just do damage, while a wizard is a more general term. I believe that the Old Testiment differentiates between various sorts of wonder-working (most of which is forbidden), and the words “wizard” and “sorcerer” are sometimes used to translate the Hebrew words. For example, Pharoh’s “sorcerers” were able to replicate the staves-to-snakes “trick”, but Moses’ staff-snake ate their staff-snakes. In some books (such as Brust’s _Jhereg_ series), there exist sorcerers, but not wizards, or vice versa. In some other books (_Harry Potter_, _Xanth_), there is no distinction made between the two, or other magical sorts such as magicians and witches. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/13 "2002-07-08T18:58:22Z")
In Terry Pratchett’s _Discworld_ novels, a wizard is the eighth(\*) son of a man, your general-purpose spellcaster who can manipulate magical energies. The eighth son of an eighth son is a sourcerer (note spelling), who can _create_ magical energies – a source of magic, as it were. (\* = IIRC, traditional western lore says a wizard is the seventh son, but _Discworld_ features eight as a magic number instead) ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/14 "2002-07-08T21:37:09Z")
“Wizards have better PR men” until the OP said: > [@](#): > > Besides the fact that “sorcerer” sounds cooler? 😉 [sup]It is probably one of those generational things![/sup] ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/15 "2002-07-08T21:42:50Z")
“Wizards have better PR men” until the OP said: > [@](#): > > Besides the fact that “sorcerer” sounds cooler? 😉 [sup]It is probably one of those generational things![/sup] ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/16 "2002-07-08T23:50:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ranchoth \* > \*\* > And…is there a feminine version of “Wizard,” or is “Sorceress” the best there is? > \*\* Wouldn’t that be “witch”? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/17 "2002-07-09T00:18:23Z")
Sorcerer show up in English just a wee bit sooner than wizard. And, sorceress shows up before sorcerer. Sorcerey shows up before 1300 as _sorcerie_ which was borrowed from Old French, which borrowed it from Vulgar Latin(_sortiarius_, which meant _one who influences lot, fate, or fortune_, from the Latin _sors_, meaning lot, fate, fortune. That is where **aldiboronti’s** SORT came from. **Sorcerer** shows up about 1425 as _sorcerour._ **Sorceress** show up about 1380 as _sorceresse_ in Chaucer. And certainly sorcery meant _witchcraft_ from the beginning. **Wizard** shows up before 1425 as _wysard_ which meant wise man or sage… It was formed from MIddle English _wys,wise_ wise. A wizard who has magical powers doesn’t show up in print until about 1550. All info from _Chambers_. ---
**Author:** ![critter42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@critter42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/critter42)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/18 "2002-07-09T00:32:49Z")
The best answer is that it depends on whose doing the writing (as someone mentioned earlier). That being said, however, one of the best “explanations” of the differences that I ever read was _Master of the Five Magics_ by Lyndon Hardy. It has been many years since I read it, but he had some really cogent explanations for the differences between Thaumaturgy, Sorcery, Wizardry, Alchemy, and Magic (think that was the fifth - again, it’s been many years since I read the thing). However, remember this is HIS definition - other people’s definitions may vary significantly, so the best answer is probably the good ol’ YMMV 🙂 critter42 ---
**Author:** ![Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/19 "2002-07-09T01:08:20Z")
I posted a reply in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=124540) thread. (Ashy subtracts a perception point from his character sheet.) ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2002, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879/20 "2002-07-09T01:19:51Z")
As per D&D definitions, the sorceror has an innate talent (or bestowed by a deity) while the wizard has studied to learn his trade. IMO, sorcerer’s are more of an enchanter type who charm other’s to do their bidding, which is probably why in D&D the skill is charisma based rather than intelligence based. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-sorcerer-and-a-wizard/117879.md?page=2)