sage´ness

sage¹ «sayj», adjective, sag|er, sag|est, noun.

–adj.

1. showing wisdom or good judgment: »

a sage reply. The sage counsels of Lord Salisbury seemed to bring with them not only wealth and power, but security (Lytton Strachey).

SYNONYM(S): judicious, prudent. See syn. under wise. (Cf. ↑wise)

2. wise; able to give good advice: »

The President surrounded himself with sage advisers. Cousin of Buckingham, and you sage, grave men... (Shakespeare).

SYNONYM(S): judicious, prudent. See syn. under wise. (Cf. ↑wise)

3. wise-looking; grave; solemn: »

Owls are sage birds.

–n.

a very wise man: »

The sage gave advice to his friends.

╂[< Old French sage < Vulgar Latin sapius, for Latin sapiēns -entis, present participle of sapere be wise. Compare etym. under sapient. (Cf. ↑sapient)]

–sage´ly, adverb.

–sage´ness, noun.

sage² «sayj», noun.

1. a) a plant whose grayish-green leaves are used as seasoning and in medicine. It is a small shrub, a species of salvia, that belongs to the mint family. b) its dried leaves: »

Turkey stuffing and sausages are seasoned with sage.

2. any one of various other shrubs or herbs of the same genus; salvia.

3. = sagebrush. (Cf. ↑sagebrush)

╂[< Old French sauge < Latin salvia. See etym. of doublet salvia. (Cf. ↑salvia)]

–sage´like´, adjective.

SAGE (no periods),

Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (a ground-operated system of the United States Air Force to detect and intercept enemy aircraft and missiles).