Musician

Musician

Noun · /mjuːˈzɪʃ.ən/

Definition

A person who plays a musical instrument, especially as a profession, or who is musically talented; a person who composes or performs music.

Origin

From Old French musicien, from musique (music), from Latin musica, from Greek mousikē (the art of the Muses), from Mousa (Muse). The Muses being the nine goddesses in Greek mythology who presided over the arts and sciences. The word musician therefore literally meaning one who practises the art of the Muses. The -ician suffix (one who practises a skill or profession: physician, technician, mortician) conferring professional status. The root also giving music, musical, musicology, and the word museum (originally a shrine of the Muses).