Saxon

[ sak-suhn ]

noun

1. a member of a Germanic people in ancient times dwelling near the mouth of the Elbe, a portion of whom invaded and occupied parts of Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries.
2. the Old English dialects of the regions settled by the Saxons.
3. a native or inhabitant of Saxony in modern Germany.
4. an English person; Britisher.
5. an Anglo-Saxon.
6. (not in scholarly use) the Old English language.
7. a member of the royal house of Germany that ruled from 919 to 1024.

adjective

1. of or relating to the early Saxons or their language.
2. of or relating to Saxony in modern Germany.
3. English ( defs 1, 2 ).

Saxon

/ ˈsæksən /

noun

1. a member of a West Germanic people who in Roman times spread from Schleswig across NW Germany to the Rhine. Saxons raided and settled parts of S Britain in the fifth and sixth centuries ad. In Germany they established a duchy and other dominions, which changed and shifted through the centuries, usually retaining the name Saxony
2. a native or inhabitant of Saxony
3. 1. the Low German dialect of Saxony
   2. any of the West Germanic dialects spoken by the ancient Saxons or their descendants

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the ancient Saxons, the Anglo-Saxons, or their descendants
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of Saxony, its inhabitants, or their Low German dialect

Other Words From

• non-Saxon noun adjective
• pre-Saxon adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Saxon¹

1250–1300; Middle English, probably < Late Latin Saxō, Saxonēs (plural) < Germanic; replacing Old English Seaxan (plural)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Saxon¹

C13 (replacing Old English Seaxe ): via Old French from Late Latin Saxon-, Saxo, from Greek; of Germanic origin and perhaps related to the name of a knife used by the Saxons; compare saw ¹

Example Sentences

The most effective weapon Anglo-Saxon elites have used to preserve power in American society has been the rule of law.

From The Daily Beast

According to an account in The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, written in the 9th century, that failed Viking raid was hardly a one-off.

From The Daily Beast

When Viking invaders tore through 9th-century Europe, only one Anglo-Saxon leader was able to withstand their ferocious onslaught.

From The Daily Beast

According to neighbor David Taubin, Sanderlin and her two daughters have been living at 193 Saxon Woods Road for about a year.

From The Daily Beast

New Saxon calls itself a “social networking site for people of European descent”; others have called it Facebook for neo-Nazis.

From The Daily Beast

He was deeply versed in Saxon literature and published a work on the antiquity of the English church.

From Project Gutenberg

I fear she was often shocked at our easy Saxon ways, though Tom and I thought ourselves models of thrift.

From Project Gutenberg

In early days this highway, leading from one of the main seaports through the ancient Saxon capital, was of great importance.

From Project Gutenberg

There are two or three ancient churches dating from Saxon times which exhibit some remarkable specimens of Saxon architecture.

From Project Gutenberg

Wantage is a quiet town, lying at the foot of the hills, and is chiefly noted as the birthplace of the great Saxon king.

From Project Gutenberg