sagely

[ seyj-lee ]

adverb

1. with a knowing or thoughtful expression; in a way that suggests careful reflection:

   By way of response, my father only puffed on his pipe and nodded sagely.

2. in a wise or judicious way; insightfully:

   As someone has sagely pointed out, today's idiot will be tomorrow's beacon of truth.

adjective

1. Rare. wise or judicious; insightful:

   A lot of people think that, like a sagely seaman who acquires wisdom and whiskers as his years trickle away on the sea, all traditions gain value as they age.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sagely¹

sage ¹ + -ly

Example Sentences

Labour has nodded sagely at the urgency of the issue.

From BBC

Aemond sagely offers, “This war will not be won by dragons alone, but dragons flying behind armies of men.”

From Salon

Then things got hairy and now here they are, sagely describing this process to a dutiful filmmaker.

From New York Times

That advice has served me well for decades, along with that of Scoggins, who once unfurled the printout of an overwritten 100-inch article and said, sagely: “Never write a story that’s taller than you are.”

From Seattle Times

The film, which Mr. Canby called “a sagely funny comedy, both heartfelt and sophisticated,” gave the singer Rubén Blades his breakout acting role.

From New York Times

Related Words

• carefully
• intelligently
• judiciously
• sensibly
• shrewdly