sage 1
— sagely , adv. — sageness , n.
/sayj/ , n., adj., sager, sagest .
n.
1. a profoundly wise person; a person famed for wisdom.
2. someone venerated for the possession of wisdom, judgment, and experience.
adj.
3. wise, judicious, or prudent: sage advice.
[ 1250-1300; ME (n. and adj.) sapidus wise, tasteful (L: tasty), equiv. to sap ( ere ) to know, be wise, orig. to taste (see SAPIENT) + -idus -ID 4 ]
Syn. 1. philosopher. 3. sagacious.
Ant. 1. fool.
sage 2
/sayj/ , n.
1. any plant or shrub belonging to the genus Salvia, of the mint family.
2. an herb, Salvia officinalis, whose grayish-green leaves are used in medicine and for seasoning in cookery.
3. the leaves themselves.
4. sagebrush.
[ 1275-1325; ME sa ( u ) ge sau ( l ) ge salvia, deriv. of salvus SAFE (so named from its supposed healing powers) ]