savage
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Old French sauvage, salvage (“wild, savage, untamed”), from Late Latin salvaticus, alteration of Latin silvaticus (“wild"; literally, "of the woods”), from silva (“forest", "grove”).
Pronunciation [edit]
Adjective [edit]
savage (comparative more savage, superlative most savage)
- wild; not cultivated
- barbaric; not civilized
- 1719- Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
- ...I observed a place where there had been a fire made, and a circle dug in the earth, like a cockpit, where I supposed the savage wretches had sat down to their human feastings upon the bodies of their fellow-creatures.
- 1719- Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
- fierce and ferocious
- brutal, vicious, or merciless
- The woman was killed in a savage manner.
- (UK, slang) unpleasant or unfair
- I'll see you in detention.
- Ah, savage!
Translations [edit]
Wild, not cultivated
Barbaric, not civilized
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Fierce and ferocious
Brutal, vicious or merciless
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Noun [edit]
savage (plural savages)
- (pejorative) An uncivilized or feral human; a barbarian.
- 1847, Benjamin Disraeli, Tancred: or The New Crusade, page 251
- 'Well, my lord, I don't know,' said Freeman with a sort of jolly sneer; 'we have been dining with the savages.'
'They are not savages, Freeman.'
'Well, my lord, they have not much more clothes, anyhow; and as for knives and forks, there is not such a thing known.'
- 'Well, my lord, I don't know,' said Freeman with a sort of jolly sneer; 'we have been dining with the savages.'
- 1847, Benjamin Disraeli, Tancred: or The New Crusade, page 251
- (figuratively) A defiant person.
Translations [edit]
uncivilized or feral person
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Verb [edit]
savage (third-person singular simple present savages, present participle savaging, simple past and past participle savaged) (transitive)
- To attack or assault someone or something ferociously or without restraint.
- (figuratively) To criticise vehemently.
- His latest film was savaged by most reviewers.
- (of an animal) To attack with the teeth
- (obsolete, transitive) To make savage.
- South
- Its bloodhounds, savaged by a cross of wolf.
- South
Translations [edit]
To attack or assault someone or something ferociously or without restraint
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To criticise vehemently
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To attack with the teeth
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