Main Entry:

¹sav·age

Pronunciation:

\ˈsa-vij\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French salvage, savage, from Late Latin salvaticus, alteration of Latin silvaticus of the woods, wild, from silva wood, forest

Date:

13th century

1 a: not domesticated or under human control : untamed <savage beasts> b: lacking the restraints normal to civilized human beings : fierce, ferocious <a savage criminal>2: wild, uncultivated <seldom have I seen such savage scenery — Douglas Carruthers>3 a: boorish, rude <the savage bad manners of most motorists — M. P. O'Connor> b: malicious4: lacking complex or advanced culture : uncivilized <a savage country>

synonyms see fierce

— sav·age·ly adverb

— sav·age·ness noun