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

sager, sagest 

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 man revered for his profound wisdom

adjective

1. profoundly wise or prudent

2. obsolete,  solemn

sage

²

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• sageness noun
• sagely adverb

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

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

Origin of sage²

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

Example Sentences

The character already got his much-deserved happily ever after and now shows up to dole out sage advice and support for the family.

From Los Angeles Times

In the early morning, the east-facing yard is alive with butterflies and bees, dancing over electric-purple whorls of celestial blue sage and sunny Palmer’s Indian mallow growing over the fence.

From Los Angeles Times

When the tribe “started to burn the sage … that’s when it hit me,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

In the meantime, for adults concerned about the adolescents in their own lives, volunteers offered some sage advice.

From Los Angeles Times

Amid California’s coastal sage scrub and chaparral ecosystems that are plagued with frequent fast-moving fires, preventing ignitions and stamping out fires before they become unmanageable is the name of the game.

From Los Angeles Times