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.
Phrases and idioms:
Saxon architecture the form of Romanesque architecture preceding the Norman in England. Saxon blue a solution of indigo in sulphuric acid as a dye.
Derivatives:
Saxondom n. Saxonism n. Saxonist n. Saxonize v.tr. & intr. (also -ise).
Etymology: ME f. OF f. LL Saxo -onis f. Gk Saxones (pl.) f. WG: cf. OE Seaxan, Seaxe (pl.)