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sage 1 (sāj)
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n.
One venerated for experience, judgment, and wisdom.
adj. sag·er, sag·est
1. Having or exhibiting wisdom and calm judgment.
2. Proceeding from or marked by wisdom and calm judgment: sage advice.
3. Archaic Serious; solemn.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *sapius, from Latin sapere, to be wise; see sep- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

sagely adv.
sageness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
sage 2 (sāj)
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n.
1.
a. Any of various plants of the genus Salvia of the mint family, especially S. officinalis, having aromatic grayish-green leaves.
b. The leaves of S. officinalis used as a seasoning.
2. Any of various similar or related plants, chiefly in the mint family.
3. Sagebrush.

[Middle English sauge, from Old French, from Latin salvia, from salvus, healthy; see sol- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
(click for a larger image)
sage2
common sage
Salvia officinalis

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.