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 saga novel. 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 calledsaga 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 decision by judges at the Court of Appeal has blown open an ongoing saga into hidden commission payments, with buyers possibly in line for payouts totalling billions of pounds.

From BBC

But, after a drawn-out saga with his Japanese team, Sasaki wound up staying.

From Los Angeles Times

Gunn had initially planned to keep competing but said the saga had been so "upsetting" that she changed her mind.

From BBC

The sale of 17 former trust properties to Pustilnikov this fall was supposed to end the saga.

From Los Angeles Times

Former President Trump’s legal challenges to the results and his attempts to block the certification of the vote became a saga that culminated in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

From Los Angeles Times