n.
Pronunciation: ' sa-vij
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French salvage, savage, from Late Latin salvaticus, alteration of Latin silvaticus of the woods, wild, from silva wood, forest
Date: 13th century
1 a : not domesticated or under human control : UNTAMED < savage beasts> b : lacking the restraints normal to civilized human beings : FIERCE , FEROCIOUS <a savage criminal>
2 : WILD , UNCULTIVATED <seldom have I seen such savage scenery ― Douglas Carruthers>
3 a : BOORISH , RUDE <the savage bad manners of most motorists ― M. P. O'Connor> b : MALICIOUS
4 : lacking complex or advanced culture : UNCIVILIZED <a savage country>
synonyms see FIERCE
– sav · age · ly adverb
– sav · age · ness noun