meh₂gʰ-
“to be able, to have power (magic)”magic/power
PIE root meaning to be able or to have magical power. Source of English "may," "might," "magic," and words for supernatural ability.
Discussion
*meh₂gʰ- is a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to be able" or "to have power," with extensions into the domain of magical and supernatural ability.
The root gives Old English mæg "is able" (modern English may) and miht "power" (modern English might). German mögen "may" and Macht "power" continue the same forms. The original sense of general ability narrowed in some branches to supernatural power—Greek mêkhos "means, device" and mákhos "battle" reflect the "power" sense, while mágoswith its Persian/Median cultural associations gave English magic and magician via Latin magus.
Old Persian maguš "Magian priest" (a member of the priestly caste) connects supernatural power to religious authority. This was borrowed into Greek as mágos and thence into Latin, giving English mage, magic, magician. The semantic chain runs: able → powerful → supernaturally powerful → priestly.
Sanskrit mahā- "great" (as in Mahatma, Maharaja) may reflect an extended form, though this derivation is debated by some scholars who prefer to connect it to *meǵh₂- "great."
Modern descendants include English may, might, magic, magician, machine (via Greek mēkhanḗ "device"), and mechanic.
Notes
Source of English "may", "magic" (via Greek "mágos"). Sense: supernatural ability.