sage

[seyj]

noun

a profoundly wise person; a person famed for wisdom.

someone venerated for the possession of wisdom, judgment, and experience.

adjective, sag·er, sag·est.

wise, judicious, or prudent: sage advice.

Origin of sage

1250–1300; Middle English (noun and adj.) < Old French < Late Latin sapidus wise, tasteful (Latin: tasty), equivalent to sap(ere) to know, be wise, orig. to taste (see sapient) + -idus -id⁴

Related formssage·ly, adverbsage·ness, noun

Synonyms for sage

1. philosopher. 3. sagacious.

Antonyms for sage

1. fool.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for sager

knowing, sound, understanding, contemplative, sharp, enlightened, smart, cunning, intellectual, teacher, pundit, guru, philosopher, savant, master, mentor, guide, intellect, thinker, mahatma

Examples from the Web for sager

Historical Examples of sager

Pederson was still fumbling for his gun, and Sager hadn't yet started for his.
The Penal Cluster
Ivar Jorgensen (AKA Randall Garrett)
He went down, and Sager was on top of him before he struck the floor.
The Penal Cluster
Ivar Jorgensen (AKA Randall Garrett)
Somehow, Sager managed to get one hand on the gun, twisting it.
The Penal Cluster
Ivar Jorgensen (AKA Randall Garrett)
At first, Sager was terrified when he learned what had happened to him.
The Penal Cluster
Ivar Jorgensen (AKA Randall Garrett)
Outnumbered and overpowered, it seemed as though Sager had no chance.
The Penal Cluster
Ivar Jorgensen (AKA Randall Garrett)

British Dictionary definitions for sager

sage

noun

a man revered for his profound wisdom

adjective

profoundly wise or prudent

obsolete solemn

Derived Formssagely, adverbsageness, noun

Word Origin for sage

C13: from Old French, from Latin sapere to be sensible; see sapient

sage

noun

a perennial Mediterranean plant, Salvia officinalis, having grey-green leaves and purple, blue, or white flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

the leaves of this plant, used in cooking for flavouring

short for sagebrush

Word Origin for sage

C14: from Old French saulge, from Latin salvia, from salvus safe, in good health (from the curative properties attributed to the plant)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for sager

sage

adj.

"wise," c.1300 (late 12c. as a surname), from Old French sage "wise, knowledgeable, learned; shrewd, skillful" (11c.), from Gallo-Romance *sabius, from Vulgar Latin *sapius, from Latin sapere "have a taste, have good taste, be wise," from PIE root *sap- "to taste" (see sap (n.1)). Meaning "characterized by wisdom" is from 1530s. Related: Sageness.

sage

n.1

kind of herb (Salvia officinalis), early 14c., from Old French sauge (13c.), from Latin salvia, from salvus "healthy" (see safe (adj.)). So called for its healing or preserving qualities (it was used to keep teeth clean and relieve sore gums, and boiled in water to make a drink to alleviate arthritis). In English folklore, sage, like parsley, is said to grow best where the wife is dominant. In late Old English as salvie, directly from Latin. Cf. German Salbei, also from Latin.

sage

n.2

"man of profound wisdom," mid-14c., from sage (adj.). Originally applied to the Seven Sages -- Thales, Solon, Periander, Cleobulus, Chilon, Bias, and Pittacus.