n. & adj.
n. 1 hist. a a member of the Germanic people that conquered parts of England in 5th-6th c. b (usu. Old Saxon) the language of the Saxons. 2 = ANGLO-SAXON. 3 a native of modern Saxony in Germany. 4 the Germanic (as opposed to Latin or Romance) elements of English.
adj. 1 hist. of or concerning the Saxons. 2 belonging to or originating from the Saxon language or Old English. 3 of or concerning modern Saxony or Saxons. Saxon architecture the form of Romanesque architecture preceding the Norman in England. Saxon blue a solution of indigo in sulphuric acid as a dye. Saxondom n. Saxonism n. Saxonist n. Saxonize v.tr. & intr. (also -ise).
[ ME f. OF f. LL Saxo -onis f. Gk Saxones (pl.) f. WG: cf. OE Seaxan, Seaxe (pl.) ]