adj., n., & v.
--adj.
1. fierce; cruel (savage persecution; a savage blow).
2 wild; primitive (savage tribes; a savage animal).
3 archaic (of scenery etc.) uncultivated (a savage scene).
4 colloq. angry; bad-tempered (in a savage mood).
5 Heraldry (of the human figure) naked.
--n.
1. Anthropol. derog. a member of a primitive tribe.
2 a cruel or barbarous person.
--v.tr.
1. (esp. of a dog, wolf, etc.) attack and bite or trample.
2 (of a critic etc.) attack fiercely.
Derivatives:
savagedom n. savagely adv. savageness n. savagery n. (pl. -ies).
Etymology: ME f. OF sauvage wild f. L silvaticus f. silva a wood