saga

[sah-guh]

noun

1. a medieval Icelandic or Norse prose narrative of achievements and events in the history of a personage, family, etc.

2. any narrative or legend of heroic exploits.

   Synonyms: history, tale, epic

3. Also called saga novel. a form of the novel in which the members or generations of a family or social group are chronicled in a long and leisurely narrative.

4. a dramatic history of a group, place, industry, etc..

   the saga of the transcontinental railroad.

5. any very long story with dramatic events or parts.

   the sad saga of her life in poverty.

saga

/ ˈsɑːɡə /

noun

1. any of several medieval prose narratives written in Iceland and recounting the exploits of a hero or a family

2. any similar heroic narrative

3. Also called: saga novel. a series of novels about several generations or members of a family

4. any other artistic production said to resemble a saga

5. informal,  a series of events or a story stretching over a long period

Word History and Origins

Origin of saga¹

First recorded in 1700–10; from Old Norse: literally, “story, narrative, history”; cognate with saw ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of saga¹

C18: from Old Norse: a narrative; related to Old English secgan to _say ¹

Example Sentences

A moot point, like so many in this tortuous saga.

Read more on BBC

The saga of ultra-Catholic right-wing lawyer Maria Steen and her €10,000 Hermès handbag is definitely worth recounting, but perhaps over a pint rather than here and now.

Read more on Salon

I descended into a crevice in the earth shrouded by foliage, and passed through stone chambers with dioramas with an audio-guide explaining the dramatic saga.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The saga of the Afghans at Camp As Sayliyah is the latest chapter in the aftermath of America’s troubled 20-year war in Afghanistan and its botched withdrawal.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This whole saga, twenty years of it, was built on denial.

Read more on BBC