adj., n., & v.
adj. 1 fierce; cruel (savage persecution; a savage blow). 2 wild; primitive (savage tribes; a savage animal). 3 archaic (of scenery etc.) uncultivated (a savage scene). 4 colloq. angry; bad-tempered (in a savage mood). 5 Heraldry (of the human figure) naked.
n. 1 Anthropol. derog. a member of a primitive tribe. 2 a cruel or barbarous person.
v.tr. 1 (esp. of a dog, wolf, etc.) attack and bite or trample. 2 (of a critic etc.) attack fiercely. savagedom n. savagely adv. savageness n. savagery n. (pl. -ies).
[ ME f. OF sauvage wild f. L silvaticus f. silva a wood ]