sage

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Origin: OE. sauge, F. sauge, L. salvia, from salvus saved, in allusion to its reputed healing virtues. See Safe.

Botany (a) A suffruticose labiate plant (Salvia officinalis) with grayish green foliage, much used in flavoring meats, etc. The name is often extended to the whole genus, of which many species are cultivated for ornament, as the scarlet sage, and Mexican red and blue sage. (b) The sagebrush.

Meadow sage Botany, a blue-flowered species of Salvia (Salvia pratensis) growing in meadows in Europe. — Sage cheese, cheese flavored with sage, and colored green by the juice of leaves of spinach and other plants which are added to the milk. — Sage cock Zoology, the male of the sage grouse; in a more general sense, the specific name of the sage grouse. — Sage green, of a dull grayish green color, like the leaves of garden sage. — Sage grouse Zoology, a very large American grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), native of the dry sagebrush plains of Western North America. Called also cock of the plains. The male is called sage cock, and the female sage hen. — Sage hare, or Sage rabbit Zoology, a species of hare (Lepus Nuttalli syn. Lepus artemisia) which inhabits the arid regions of Western North America and lives among sagebrush. By recent writers it is considered to be merely a variety of the common cottontail, or wood rabbit. — Sage hen Zoology, the female of the sage grouse. — Sage sparrow Zoology, a small sparrow (Amphispiza Belli, var. Nevadensis) which inhabits the dry plains of the Rocky Mountain region, living among sagebrush. — Sage thrasher Zoology, a singing bird (Oroscoptes montanus) which inhabits the sagebrush plains of Western North America. — Sage willow Botany, a species of willow (Salix tristis) forming a low bush with nearly sessile grayish green leaves.

Origin: F., fr. L. sapius (only in nesapius unwise, foolish), fr. sapere to be wise; perhaps akin to E. sap. Cf. Savor, Sapient, Insipid.

1. Having nice discernment and powers of judging; prudent; grave; sagacious.

All you sage counselors, hence!— William Shakespeare

2. Proceeding from wisdom; well judged; shrewd; well adapted to the purpose.

Commanders, who, cloaking their fear under show of sage advice, counseled the general to retreat.— John Milton

3. Grave; serious; solemn. rare “[Great bards] in sage and solemn tunes have sung.” John Milton

Synonyms: Wise; sagacious; sapient; grave; prudent; judicious.

A wise man; a man of gravity and wisdom; especially, a man venerable for years, and of sound judgment and prudence; a grave philosopher.

At his birth a star, Unseen before in heaven, proclaims him come, And guides the Eastern sages.— John Milton

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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(2001-01-27)