Here's a breakdown of its evolution:
* Ancient Greek: The word likely originated from the Greek word "μαγεία" (mageia), which referred to the practices of the Magi, a priestly class in Persia. This term, in turn, likely derived from the Old Persian word "magu," meaning "magician" or "priest."
* Latin: From Greek, the word entered Latin as "magia."
* Middle English: The word entered Middle English as "magik," with a "k" at the end. This reflects the pronunciation at the time, where the final "g" was silent.
* Modern English: Over time, the "k" was dropped, and the "c" was pronounced as "sh." This gave us the spelling we know today, "magic."
Therefore, the "original" spelling would depend on the specific period and language you're looking at.
Some early spellings of "magic" include:
* "magik" (Middle English)
* "magia" (Latin)
* "μαγεία" (Ancient Greek)
It's important to remember that these spellings are just snapshots in the word's long history. The spelling of "magic" has changed over time, reflecting shifts in pronunciation and the influence of other languages.