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savage

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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

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

Origin: 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

transitive verb savaged, savaging

to attack in a violent or brutal way

Related Forms:

savagely adverb
savageness noun

See savage in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Not domesticated or cultivated; wild: savage beasts of the jungle.
Not civilized; barbaric: a people living in a savage state.
Ferocious; fierce: in a savage temper.
Vicious or merciless; brutal: a savage attack on a political rival. See Synonyms at cruel.
Lacking polish or manners; rude.

noun

A person regarded as primitive or uncivilized.
A person regarded as brutal, fierce, or vicious.

transitive verb sav·aged, sav·ag·ing, sav·ag·es

To assault ferociously.
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

.

Related Forms:

savˈage·ly adverb

savˈage·ness noun

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