Advertisement

savage (adj.)

mid-13c., "fierce, ferocious;" c. 1300, "wild, undomesticated, untamed" (of animals and places), from Old French sauvage, salvage "wild, savage, untamed, strange, pagan," from Late Latin salvaticus, alteration of silvaticus "wild," literally "of the woods," from silva "forest, grove" (see sylvan). Of persons, the meaning "reckless, ungovernable" is attested from c. 1400, earlier in sense "indomitable, valiant" (c. 1300).

savage (n.)

"wild person," c. 1400, from savage (adj.).

savage (v.)

"to tear with the teeth, maul," 1880, from savage (adj.). Earlier "to act the savage" (1560s). Related: Savaged; savaging.

Others are reading

Advertisement
Definitions of savage from WordNet
1
savage (adj.)
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering;
a savage slap
savage (adj.)
wild and menacing;
Synonyms: feral / ferine
savage (adj.)
without civilizing influences; "fighting is crude and uncivilized especially if the weapons are efficient"-Margaret Meade;
a savage people
Synonyms: barbarian / barbaric / uncivilized / uncivilised / wild
savage (adj.)
marked by extreme and violent energy;
Synonyms: ferocious / fierce / furious
2
savage (v.)
attack brutally and fiercely;
savage (v.)
criticize harshly or violently;
The press savaged the new President
Synonyms: blast / pillory / crucify
3
savage (n.)
a member of an uncivilized people;
Synonyms: barbarian
savage (n.)
a cruelly rapacious person;
Synonyms: beast / wolf / brute / wildcat
From wordnet.princeton.edu