savage
UK: ˈsævɪdʒ | US: ˈsævɪdʒ
adj. fierce, violent, or uncontrolled
adj. primitive or uncivilized
n. a person regarded as primitive or uncivilized
vt. to attack or criticize brutally
savage = sav<wild> + age<noun suffix>
- sav<wild>: From Old French sauvage, derived from Latin silvaticus (of the woods), from silva (forest). The morpheme reflects untamed, natural wildness.
- age<noun suffix>: A suffix forming nouns indicating state or condition (e.g., "marriage," "bondage").
Etymology Origin:
The word savage traces back to Latin silvaticus, meaning "of the woods," highlighting a primal connection to wilderness. Through Old French sauvage, it evolved to denote untamed behavior or lack of civilization. The suffix -age generalized the term into a noun or adjective, reinforcing its association with brutality or primitiveness. The logic follows a progression from literal wildness (forest-dwelling) to metaphorical ferocity.
The savage storm destroyed the coastal village.
Explorers encountered savage tribes in the uncharted jungle.
Critics savaged the artist’s latest work as amateurish.
His savage temper made him feared among his peers.
The documentary exposed the savage conditions in the factory.