I. ˈsa-vij 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
II. noun
Date: 15th century
1. : a person belonging to a primitive society
2. : a brutal person
3. : a rude or unmannerly person
III. transitive verb
( sav·aged ; sav·ag·ing )
Date: 1880
: to attack or treat brutally