Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English (noun and adj.) < Old French < Late Latin sapidus wise, tasteful (Latin: tasty), equivalent to sap(ere) to know, be wise, orig. to taste (see sapient) + -idus -id⁴

Related forms

sage·ly, adverb

sage·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. philosopher. 3. sagacious.

Antonyms
1. fool.

Dictionary.com Unabridged

noun

any plant or shrub belonging to the genus Salvia, of the mint family.

an herb, Salvia officinalis, whose grayish-green leaves are used in medicine and for seasoning in cookery.

the leaves themselves.

sagebrush.

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English sa(u)ge < Middle French sau(l)ge < Latin salvia, derivative of salvus safe (so named from its supposed healing powers)

noun

Russell, 1816–1906, U.S. financier.

noun

A·lain Re·né

[a-lan ruh-ney] , 1668–1747, French novelist and dramatist.

Also, Le·sage.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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World English Dictionary

sage¹ (seɪdʒ)

—n
1.	a man revered for his profound wisdom

—*adj*
2.	profoundly wise or prudent
3.	obsolete solemn

[C13: from Old French, from Latin sapere to be sensible; see sapient]

'sagely¹

—*adv*

'sageness¹

—n

sage² (seɪdʒ)

—n
1.	a perennial Mediterranean plant, Salvia officinalis, having grey-green leaves and purple, blue, or white flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)
2.	the leaves of this plant, used in cooking for flavouring
3.	short for sagebrush

[C14: from Old French saulge, from Latin salvia, from salvus safe, in good health (from the curative properties attributed to the plant)]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

sage

"wise," c.1300, from O.Fr. sage (11c.), from Gallo-Romance *sabius, from V.L. *sapius, from L. sapere "have a taste, have good taste, be wise," from PIE base *sap- "to taste." The noun meaning "man of profound wisdom" is recorded from c.1300. Originally applied to the Seven Sages -- Thales, Solon, Periander,

EXPAND

Cleobulus, Chilon, Bias, and Pittacus.

sage

kind of herb (Salvia officinalis), c.1310, from O.Fr. sauge (13c.), from L. salvia, from salvus "healthy" (see safe). So called for its healing or preserving qualities (it was used to keep teeth clean and relieve sore gums, and boiled in water to make a drink to alleviate arthritis).

In Eng. folklore, sage, like parsley, is said to grow best where the wife is dominant. Sagebrush first recorded 1852.

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