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Where does the word "savage" come from? It comes from Late Latin silvaticus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "savage" come from? It comes from Late Latin silvaticus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Savage’s story begins in Late Latin: silvaticus meant “of the woods.” From 'silva', forest, the root of 'sylvan'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as sauvage. Wild animals and untamed land. It reached English by 1300s as savage. Used of cruel ferocity from the 1500s. Today, savage means fierce and violent.
- Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient silvaticus "of the woods", from 'silva', forest, the root of 'sylvan'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval sauvage "wild", wild animals and untamed land.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s savage "wild", used of cruel ferocity from the 1500s.