savage

The definition of savage is something wild, untamed or primitive.

(adjective)

An example of savage used as an adjective is a savage beast that lives in the jungle.

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See savage in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. wild, uncultivated, rugged, etc.: a savage jungle
  2. fierce; ferocious; untamed: a savage tiger
  3. without civilization; primitive; barbarous: a savage tribe
  4. lacking polish; crude; rude
  5. cruel; pitiless
  6. furious; ill-tempered

Origin: ME sauvage < OFr salvage < VL salvaticus, wild < L silvaticus, belonging to a wood, wild < silva, a wood: see sylvan

noun

  1. Archaic a member of a nonliterate culture, often having a tribal way of life
  2. a fierce, brutal person
  3. a crude, boorish person

transitive verb savaged, savaging

to attack in a violent or brutal way

Related Forms:

See savage in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Not domesticated or cultivated; wild: savage beasts of the jungle.
  2. Not civilized; barbaric: a people living in a savage state.
  3. Ferocious; fierce: in a savage temper.
  4. Vicious or merciless; brutal: a savage attack on a political rival. See Synonyms at cruel.
  5. Lacking polish or manners; rude.
noun
  1. A person regarded as primitive or uncivilized.
  2. A person regarded as brutal, fierce, or vicious.
transitive verb sav·aged, sav·ag·ing, sav·ag·es
  1. To assault ferociously.
  2. To attack without restraint or pity: The critics savaged the new play.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English sauvage

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Late Latin salvāticus

Origin: , from Latin silvāticus, of the woods, wild

Origin: , from silva, forest

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Related Forms:

  • savˈage·ly adverb
  • savˈage·ness noun

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