# Words for "wizard" linked to types of magic **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 16, 2007, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302 "2007-05-16T11:52:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/21 "2007-05-16T22:19:29Z")
Saucerer: Capable of telekinetic manipulation of dishware. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/22 "2007-05-16T22:22:32Z")
[QUOTE=MrJackboots] [Erfworld](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/erf0040.html) had some creative versions of the traditional names. They’re pretty silly, though. [/QUOTE] True, though if you don’t want the “silly” aspect you can just replace the root words with Latin or Greek synonymns and they sound impressively arcane (in fact, some but not all of them revert back to names people have already listed on this thread). That said, you’ve got to love a system of names that puts main villainess’ preferred magic discipline under the category “Naughtymancy”… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/23 "2007-05-16T22:25:33Z")
Skin Shifter–a spellcaster who specializes in changing his shape &, at high levels, becoming what would otherwise be inanimate materials, like fire or metal. Avatar–one who channels a Supernatural Being, not necessarily a God or Demon, & takes on aspects & attributes of that Being. ---
**Author:** ![MrJackboots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MrJackboots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJackboots)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/24 "2007-05-16T22:48:09Z")
[QUOTE=Steve MB] That said, you’ve got to love a system of names that puts main villainess’ preferred magic discipline under the category “Naughtymancy”… 😃 [/QUOTE] If you read the comic, you’ll find that it’s _very_ appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/25 "2007-05-16T23:25:33Z")
You people really are slipping. Prestidigitator: one who performs magic tricks for amusement. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/26 "2007-05-16T23:49:21Z")
For the life magic, most people say Healer. Unless you’re talking about fast-growing plants and putting wings on snakes. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/27 "2007-05-17T00:02:14Z")
For a mage who manipulates life energy, what about “vitalist?” Wizards who practice extremely foppish magic are known as Fancypantsomancers. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/28 "2007-05-17T00:10:02Z")
Bard : Magic by song. Wyrdmaker : Manipulation of fate. Probability control. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/29 "2007-05-17T00:29:22Z")
[QUOTE=MrJackboots] [Erfworld](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/erf0040.html) had some creative versions of the traditional names. They’re pretty silly, though. [/QUOTE] “Croakamancer” is sublime, though … . ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/30 "2007-05-17T02:00:04Z")
[QUOTE=Fish] Chronomancy — magic with clocks. [/QUOTE] Time, like Hiro in “Heroes”. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/31 "2007-05-17T02:08:37Z")
There’s always the Final Fantasy route too: Black Mage White Mage Red Mage (usually a mix of both of the above) Blue Mage (learns magic from the enemy) There’s others but those are the big four. Other FF jobs that use magic but dont sound like it at first are: Mime Dancer - Uses dance to inflict status effects Painter - Draws paintings of a previously fought enemy to cast one spell of the painted enemy onto a target(s). ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/32 "2007-05-17T02:51:36Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel] Wizards who practice extremely foppish magic are known as Fancypantsomancers. [/QUOTE] Wizards with desk jobs are called Bureaumancers. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/33 "2007-05-17T02:58:00Z")
[QUOTE=Scissorjack] Wizards with desk jobs are called Bureaumancers. [/QUOTE] And Cornish wizards who can summon up Tony Scott movies are called Truromancers. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/34 "2007-05-17T03:01:40Z")
[QUOTE=MrJackboots] If you read the comic, you’ll find that it’s _very_ appropriate. [/QUOTE] And you’d know where I lifted my sigline from. ---
**Author:** ![MrJackboots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MrJackboots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJackboots)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/35 "2007-05-17T03:46:55Z")
[QUOTE=Steve MB] And you’d know where I lifted my sigline from. [/QUOTE] :smack: I knew it looked familiar! ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/36 "2007-05-18T08:19:23Z")
Thanks for all suggestions. My current list is: Necromancer - death magic Animist - life magic Shaman - nature magic Piper - music magic Battlemage - combat magic Jinxster - trickster magic Illusionist - illusion magic Elementalist - elemental magic Summoner - spirit magic Diviner/Seer/Scryer - scrying magic Enchanter - imbuing others with magic (need a good short word for this) ---
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/37 "2007-05-18T09:23:05Z")
From Wordinfo : Tiromancy : Cheese Magic !!! Critomancy : Magic via cake dough (hey, if the spell fails at least you’ve got a cake). ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/38 "2007-05-18T10:11:59Z")
I’ve always been a fan of universe-specific words to describe the magic-users, and the implications of the word would also be distinct to that world. For example: Jedi - These are the “wizards” of the Star Wars universe, but because of their unique powers and distinct name, almost no one even thinks about them as ‘wizards’, despite their magical abilities (persuasion, levitation, telekinesis, lightning, etc.) Aes Sedai - The sorceresses of the Wheel of Time series, they do feel more like standard magicians than Jedi, but again, it’s a very distinct concept of channeling magic with definite limitations, all wrapped up in a very strict heirarchal system. So, if you really wanna go for a unique flavor, you could also try inventing a new class of magic-users with its own particular quirky system. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/39 "2007-05-18T10:26:16Z")
Inspired by D&D prestige classes: Auspician/Fatespinner: Manipulates the forces of luck. Atavist: Channels the power of his ancestors’ spirits. Bladesinger: Combines art, magic, and swordsmanship. Demonologist: Specializes in summoning and controlling demons. High Mage: Casts spells of extraordinary power in conjunction with other high mages. Exalted Arcanist: Channels celestial energy. Incantatar/Incantatrix: Specializes in manipulating existing magical effects. Magekiller: A spellcaster who focuses on magic used to slay other mages. Sacred Exorcist: Excells at driving out and combating evil spirits. Stormsinger: Controls the weather. Oneiromancer: Controls dreams and the dream world. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302/40 "2007-05-18T11:20:46Z")
Sourcerer - code wizard _Use the Source, Luke_ Si [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-for-wizard-linked-to-types-of-magic/404302.md?page=3)