savage
savage definition
sav·age (sav′ij)
adjective
- wild, uncultivated, rugged, etc. a savage jungle
- fierce; ferocious; untamed a savage tiger
- without civilization; primitive; barbarous a savage tribe
- lacking polish; crude; rude
- cruel; pitiless
- furious; ill-tempered
Etymology: ME sauvage < OFr salvage < VL salvaticus, wild < L silvaticus, belonging to a wood, wild < silva, a wood: see sylvan
noun
- Archaic a member of a nonliterate culture, often having a tribal way of life
- a fierce, brutal person
- a crude, boorish person
Related Forms:
- savagely sav′·agely adverb
- savageness sav′·age·ness noun
Browse dictionary definitions near savage
Also Mentioned In