(sometimes lowercase) the wise men, generally assumed to be three in number, who paid homage to the infant Jesus. Matt. 2:1–12. Compare Balthazar(def. 1), Caspar(def. 1), Melchior(def. 1).
2.
(sometimes lowercase) the class of Zoroastrian priests in ancient Media and Persia, reputed to possess supernatural powers.
the Zoroastrian priests of the ancient Medes and Persians
2.
the three magi the wise men from the East who came to do homage to the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:1--12) and traditionally called Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar
c.1200, from L. magi, pl. of magus, from Gk. magos, word used for the Persian learned and priestly class as portrayed in the Bible (said by ancient historians to have been originally the name of a Median tribe), from O.Pers. magush "magician" (see magic).