/ ˈsævɪdʒ; NAmE / adjective , noun , verb
■ adjective
1.
aggressive and violent; causing great harm
SYN brutal :
savage dogs
She had been badly hurt in what police described as 'a savage attack'.
savage public spending cuts
2.
involving very strong criticism :
The article was a savage attack on the government's record.
3.
[ only before noun ] ( old-fashioned , taboo ) an offensive way of referring to groups of people or customs that are considered to be simple and not highly developed
SYN primitive :
a savage tribe
► sav·age·ly adverb :
savagely attacked / criticized
'No!' he snarled savagely.
■ noun
1.
( old-fashioned , taboo ) an offensive word for sb who belongs to a people that is simple and not developed :
the development of the human race from primitive savages
2.
a cruel and violent person :
He described the attack as the work of savages.
■ verb [ vn ] [ usually passive ]
1.
( of an animal ) to attack sb violently, causing serious injury :
She was savaged to death by a bear.
2.
( formal ) to criticize sb/sth severely :
Her latest novel has been savaged by the critics.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French sauvage wild, from Latin silvaticus of the woods, from silva a wood.