sage

¹

[ seyj ]

noun

1. a profoundly wise person; a person famed for wisdom.

   Synonyms: philosopher

   Antonyms: fool

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

adjective

, sag·er, sag·est.

1. wise, judicious, or prudent:

   sage advice.

   Synonyms: sagacious

sage

²

[ seyj ]

noun

1. any plant or shrub belonging to the genus Salvia, of the mint family.
2. an herb, Salvia officinalis, whose grayish-green leaves are used medicinally and in cooking.
3. the leaves of the medicinal and culinary herb Salvia officinalis.
4. sagebrush.

Sage

³

[ seyj ]

noun

1. Russell, 1816–1906, U.S. financier.

sage

¹

/ seɪdʒ /

noun

1. a perennial Mediterranean plant, Salvia officinalis, having grey-green leaves and purple, blue, or white flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)
2. the leaves of this plant, used in cooking for flavouring
3. short for sagebrush

sage

²

/ seɪdʒ /

noun

1. a man revered for his profound wisdom

adjective

1. profoundly wise or prudent
2. obsolete.
   solemn

Derived Forms

• ˈsageness, noun
• ˈsagely, adverb

Other Words From

• sage·ly adverb adjective
• sage·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sage¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin sapius (unattested), from Latin sap(ere) “to taste, have taste, smell, smell of; to have sense, discern, know, be wise” + -idus; sapient, -id ⁴

Origin of sage²

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English sa ( u ) ge, from Middle French sau ( l ) ge, from Latin salvia, derivative of salvus safe (so named from its supposed healing powers)

Word History and Origins

Origin of sage¹

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

Origin of sage²

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

Example Sentences

They bought his act as a shaggy sage in shorts and T-shirts, believed his claim that FTX was an almost uniquely “honest” crypto exchange and accepted his donations or invested their own, no questions asked.

From Los Angeles Times

Forty years after they began the task – and nearly four hundred years after receiving their first commission – sages in Paris have finally produced a new edition of the definitive French dictionary.

From BBC

Sitting by the mixing console, Santaolalla looks like a sage from a fantasy novel, with his thick white beard and warm smile.

From Los Angeles Times

The bench sits next to wetlands in the riparian forest, where cottonwoods and willows tower over sage bushes and wild roses.

From Los Angeles Times

Then one day, hiking in the wild lands around their home, Margaret realized that the hills were covered with fragrant, beautifully blooming plants like lupine and sages.

From Los Angeles Times