People who practice sorcery, traditionally believed to have magical powers or who perform spells and enchantments.
From Latin 'sortiarius' (one who casts lots), derived from 'sors' (lot, fate). Medieval people associated fortune-telling with magic, so the meaning shifted to mean practitioners of magic.
The word 'sorcerer' originally meant someone who told the future by drawing lots (like ancient dice), but when people couldn't explain the predictions that came true, they decided it must be magic—turning a fortuneteller into a wizard!
The gendered form 'sorceress' historically applied more to women accused of witchcraft; 'sorcerer' (masculine) carried slightly different connotations in medieval texts, though both genders were persecuted.
Use 'sorcerer' as gender-neutral when possible; if distinguishing gender, acknowledge the term's literary/historical complexity rather than reinforcing binary forms.
["sorceress and sorcerer","magic practitioner","enchanter"]
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