sage1
/seɪdʒ
/noun [mass noun]
1An aromatic plant whose greyish-green leaves are used as a culinary herb, native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean.
- Salvia officinalis, family Labiatae.
- The best culinary sage is native to southern Europe.
- Mediterranean herbs such as sage (salvia officianalis) are hardy and tasty plants.
1.1Used in names of aromatic plants of the mint family that resemble sage, e.g. wood sage.In our southern California garden Mexican sage thrives so well that we bind it with twine so it grows up where the hummingbirds get to it easier....
- Wood sage will do well in full sun or light shade.
2 (also white sage) Either of two bushy North American plants with silvery-grey leaves:
- An aromatic plant which was formerly burnt by the Cheyenne for its cleansing properties and as an incense (Artemisia ludoviciana, family Compositae). A plant of the goosefoot family (Krascheninnikovia lanata, family Chenopodiaceae)..
- This area is lightly vegetated with juniper, pine, sage, and grasses.
- Cleveland and white sage, creosote bush and brittlebush, pine and redwood, for instance, are filled with resins and release their scents on warm afternoons.
Origin
Middle English: from Old French sauge, from Latin salvia 'healing plant', from salvus 'safe'.
Rhymes
sage2
/seɪdʒ/noun
(Especially in ancient history or legend) a profoundly wise man: the sayings of the numerous venerable sages I’m not much of a sage, I’m afraid ironic I asked a sage on the news desk...
- Sen Tetsu So Dan: the first two characters mean a great thinker, a wise man, a sage in ancient times, while the third means a group, or a collection.
- As a young materialist it mattered to me that we too have our ancient texts, our saints and sages, wise men and good news.
- Well, many sages and wise men over the years have recommended the mountain top.
Synonyms
wise man/woman, learned man/woman, man/woman of letters, philosopher, scholar, thinker, savant, Solomon, Nestor, Solon;
pandit, authority, expert, guru, maharishi, mahatma, elder, teacher, guiding light, mentor
adjective
Profoundly wise: they nodded in agreement with these sage remarks...
- Quite naturally from his advanced age of 24 he feels he can already look back on his own youth and offer sage advice and profound wisdom to his parents who are still raising his younger teenage brother.
- He then continues to give him very sage, wise advice regarding governing wisely.
- Adams analyzed this behavior with sage remarks regarding trace elements and essential dietary supplements.
Synonyms
wise, learned, clever, intelligent, with/showing great knowledge, knowledgeable, sensible, intellectual, scholarly, sagacious, erudite;
discerning, judicious, canny, penetrating, perceptive, acute, astute, shrewd, prudent, politic, thoughtful, full of insight, insightful, percipient, perspicacious, philosophical, profound, deep
rare sapient
Derivatives
sageness
- One guess is that he conveyed a sageness, a discernment about life that people could easily sense.
- Alfred is Wayne's butler and surrogate father, and a typical piece of silver-service sageness goes like this: ‘You start pretending to have fun, Master Wayne, you might even have a little by accident.’
Origin
Middle English (as an adjective): from Old French, from Latin sapere 'be wise'.