Sage (?), n. [OE. sauge, F.
sauge, L. salvia, from salvus saved, in allusion
to its reputed healing virtues. See Safe.] (Bot.)
(a) A suffruticose labiate plant (Salvia
officinalis) with grayish green foliage, much used in flavoring
meats, etc. The name is often extended to the whole genus, of which
many species are cultivated for ornament, as the scarlet sage, and
Mexican red and blue sage. (b) The
sagebrush.
Meadow sage (Bot.), a blue-flowered
species of Salvia (S. pratensis) growing in meadows in
Europe. -- Sage cheese, cheese flavored
with sage, and colored green by the juice of leaves of spinach and
other plants which are added to the milk. -- Sage
cock (Zoöl.), the male of the sage grouse;
in a more general sense, the specific name of the sage grouse. --
Sage green, of a dull grayish green color, like
the leaves of garden sage. -- Sage grouse
(Zoöl.), a very large American grouse (Centrocercus
urophasianus), native of the dry sagebrush plains of Western North
America. Called also cock of the plains. The male is called
sage cock, and the female sage hen. -- Sage
hare, or Sage rabbit
(Zoöl.), a species of hare (Lepus Nuttalli, or
artemisia) which inhabits the arid regions of Western North
America and lives among sagebrush. By recent writers it is considered
to be merely a variety of the common cottontail, or wood rabbit.
-- Sage hen (Zoöl.), the female of
the sage grouse. -- Sage sparrow
(Zoöl.), a small sparrow (Amphispiza Belli,
var. Nevadensis) which inhabits the dry plains of the Rocky
Mountain region, living among sagebrush. -- Sage
thrasher (Zoöl.), a singing bird
(Oroscoptes montanus) which inhabits the sagebrush plains of
Western North America. -- Sage willow
(Bot.), a species of willow (Salix tristis) forming
a low bush with nearly sessile grayish green leaves.
Sage, n. A wise man; a man of
gravity and wisdom; especially, a man venerable for years, and of
sound judgment and prudence; a grave philosopher.
At his birth a star,
Unseen before in heaven, proclaims him come,
And guides the Eastern sages.
Milton.Sage (?), a. [Compar.
Sager (?); superl. Sagest.] [F., fr.
L. sapius (only in nesapius unwise, foolish), fr.
sapere to be wise; perhaps akin to E. sap. Cf.
Savor, Sapient, Insipid.] 1.
Having nice discernment and powers of judging; prudent; grave;
sagacious.
All you sage counselors, hence!
Shak.
2. Proceeding from wisdom; well judged;
shrewd; well adapted to the purpose.
Commanders, who, cloaking their fear under show of
sage advice, counseled the general to retreat.
Milton.
3. Grave; serious; solemn. [R.] "[Great
bards] in sage and solemn tunes have sung." Milton.
Syn. -- Wise; sagacious; sapient; grave; prudent;
judicious.