sage English · revision 16160

+ English has two words spelled ''sage'': the adjective "wise" and the name of the herb, both from French but from different Latin words.^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2024)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /seɪd͡ʒ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|wise}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1297, Robert of Gloucester|origins=la sapiō}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[bor|fro|sage|t=wise, knowledgeable]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) from a Gallo-Romance alteration of [[la-vul|*sapius]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|sapiō|t=to have taste, be wise]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) Klein and the OED infer ''*sapius'' from [[m|la|nesapius|t=foolish]], found in Petronius.^(Klein 1966)^(OED 2026) It is related to ''[[sapient]]''.^(Hoad 1986)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of a person, wise, discreet: 1297, in Robert of Gloucester's ''Chronicle'';^(OED 2026) Barnhart dates it about 1300, and as a surname from 1179.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, a man of profound wisdom, is from probably before 1350 (1399 in the OED's first example, in Langland),^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 2026) at first especially for the Seven Sages of ancient Greece.^(Weekley 1921)^(MED) Of advice or conduct, wise, is from 1531, in Elyot.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) The sense grave or solemn lasted from 1564 to 1645.^(OED 2026) From the mid-18th century the noun was also used playfully or ironically (Johnson, 1751),^(OED 2026) and in modern use the adjective, of looks or bearing, is often somewhat ironical.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – wise, discreet.^(OED 2026)

+ * before 1350 – the noun, a wise person.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1531 – of advice, wise.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1751 – ironic use of the noun.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Wise, especially through long experience.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person revered for great [[wisdom]].^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ {{homograph|2|herb}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1325|origins=la salvus}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The herb is [[inh|enm|sauge]], [[bor|fro|sauge]],^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2024) from [[la|salvia]],^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 2026) from [[m|la|salvus|t=healthy, safe]],^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) from [[ine-pro|*sol-|t=whole]].^(AHD 2024)^(Etymonline) It was named for the healing properties believed to belong to the plant.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921) Late Old English had borrowed [[m|ang|saluie]] directly from Latin.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) It is a [[doublet]] of ''[[salvia]]''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The plant: before 1325 as ''sage'' and about 1325 as ''sauge'', in Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988) the OED's first example is from before 1350, in the Harley Lyrics.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Sage was used as a medicine and in cookery:^(Etymonline) a sage stuffing or sauce appears about 1390 in the ''Forme of Cury'',^(OED 2026) and ''sage and onions'' in 1747, in Hannah Glasse.^(OED 2026) The name was given to plants of other genera from about 1400,^(OED 2026) and in North America to the ''[[sagebrush]]'' (1805, Lewis and Clark), with ''sage-brush'' from 1852.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988) According to English folklore, sage grows best where the wife is dominant.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1325 – the herb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1390 – a sage stuffing or sauce.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1747 – ''sage and onions''.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1805 – sagebrush.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An aromatic herb (''Salvia officinalis'') of the [[mint]] family with greyish-green leaves, used in cooking.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[sagebrush|alt=Sagebrush]].^(AHD 2024)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sapient]]

+ * [[safe]]

+ * [[salvage]]

+ * [[savvy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}