saga
[sah-guh]
- a medieval Icelandic or Norse prose narrative of achievements and events in the history of a personage, family, etc.
- any narrative or legend of heroic exploits.
- 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.
- a dramatic history of a group, place, industry, etc.: the saga of the transcontinental railroad.
- any very long story with dramatic events or parts: the sad saga of her life in poverty.
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Origin of saga
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for saga
Contemporary Examples
I have known Alliata for many years and have written of this saga twice before.
He talks candidly about the saga, non-monogamy, assisted suicide, and why he is ‘bored’ of the gay actor debate.
9 Must-Read Stories of Syria’s Tokyo Rose, Missing WMDs and #GamerGate: The Best of The BeastWilliam Boot
October 18, 2014
Ultimately, the big news in the saga of the cable bundle are the effects of the new lower priced tiers evolving.
Oh Yes, He’s The Great Connector: Jason Hirschhorn’s Expertly Curated WorldLloyd Grove
October 17, 2014
The saga is a bit more terrifying and Harlacher hopes this adds you to his “body count.”
New York’s Scariest Night Out: The Ghosts, Rats, and Lunatics of ‘Nightmare New York’Justin Jones
October 4, 2014
Yes, there are several, arguably illuminating revelations in the Chander-dog saga, but the endgame is the same.
Historical Examples
Since the days of Orry, we have had nothing to tell in Saga, if the Sagaman were here.
The Little Manx Nation - 1891Hall Caine
Her son claimed that he had inherited his love of “song and saga” from her.
Hymns and Hymnwriters of DenmarkJens Christian Aaberg
It takes the form of a saga and is entitled Hall of the Three Legs.
No saga will ever glorify their deeds, no epic make them immortal.
The Trail of '98Robert W. Service
Arthur, King of Bertangenland (Saga), 379; daughter of, 393.
Theodoric the GothThomas Hodgkin
saga
- any of several medieval prose narratives written in Iceland and recounting the exploits of a hero or a family
- any similar heroic narrative
- Also called: saga novel a series of novels about several generations or members of a family
- any other artistic production said to resemble a saga
- informal a series of events or a story stretching over a long period
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Word Origin
C18: from Old Norse: a narrative; related to Old English secgan to say 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for saga
n.
1709, an antiquarians' revival to describe the medieval prose narratives of Iceland and Norway, from Old Norse saga "saga, story," cognate with Old English sagu "a saying" (see saw (n.2)). Properly, a narrative composition of Iceland or Norway in the Middle Ages, or one that has their characteristics. Meaning "long, convoluted story" is from 1857.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper