Middle English Dictionary Entry
sāǧe adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | sāǧe adj. Also sagge, sauge; pl. sages. |
| Etymology | OF; the form sauǧe perh. by analogy with other words in which ā and au alternate. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Wise, prudent, discreet; also as epithet; also, mature, of the age of discretion [quot.: Wisd.]; (b) learned, wise in lore; (c) ~ in armes, experienced or skillful in battle; (d) ~ fol, fol ~, a jester, buffoon; also, one who appears to be stupid or mad; (e) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4069 : Nou it worþ iended þat Sibile þe sage sede biuore.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7455 : This, which Cassandre thanne hihte..Is that Sibille of whom ye wite, That alle men yit clepen sage.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)3.82 : Salamon þe sage a sarmon he made For to amende men þat kepiþ þe lawis.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3183 : Þer ne was no þing so secre..Þat he hit knewe, he was of witte so sage.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4739 : Love..is..Wit unavised, sage folie, And joie full of turmentrie.
- (c1450) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35294 : Oure seide Universith..prayth ȝow devotly to excepte colleges of þe same Universyth..stronge pyllers of holy churche, as prelatys and sage fadyrs of ȝoure chyldryn, kyn and cousyns.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1649 : Þan gas he furth..to godis awen temple Þat of sir Salamon þe sage sett was & foundid.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2587 : Þa þat were trew men and sage Moght haue opyn knawlage Of þe halynes of þat gude man.
- c1460 Cursor (LdMisc 416)3044 : Of ysemaell..Shalle many come, kene & sage.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)153/9 : And ther wer..any man or woman that passed othre soueraynly in shetyng or in any othre science, like as the sage Sibille..they had certayn thyngis ordeyned whiche was grete worchipp for theim.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)892 : We be yit but tender of age..We may amende wen we be sage.
- a1500(a1400) Libeaus (Lamb 306)19 : For he was full sawge [alt. from: savage] And gladly wold not oute-rage To his ffellaves in fere.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)1222 : To speke litil is knowen a man sage.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1576 : Þer comen mony Clerkes out of Caldye þat kennest wer knauen As þe sage sathrapas þat sorsory couþe Wychez and walkyries..Sorsers and exorsismus, and fele such clerkes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)814 : 'Sir,' saide þey..thies sagge philosopherse, 'The dragon..thy seluen..es.'
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)8/246 : Whan cryst was xij ȝer of Age..in þe temple he dede appose and answerd doctoris ryth wyse and sage.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5183 : Thelemus and myȝti Euryale, Two manly men & in armys sage, Wiþ Diomede cam in þis viage.
d
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)1946 : Þe gode man wende he hadde ben rage, Or he hadde ben a fole-sage Þat hadde his witt forlorn.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)42.309/111 : Þow lyst her bi fore a fol sage þat liueþ in wodnesse and in Rage.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.423 : Ȝe lordes and ladyes and legates of holicherche..fedeth foles sages, flatereres, and lyeres And han likynge to lythen hem to do ȝow to lawghe.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.444 : For-thi I rede ȝow riche reueles whan ȝe maketh..suche ministrales to haue, Þe pore, for a fol sage, syttynge at þe heyȝ table, And a lered man to lere þe what oure lorde suffred.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)109/5 : A sage foole blamed a wyse man, wherfore oon of his fellawes asked him leeue that he myght auenge him.
- c1460 Ipom.(3) (Lngl 257)351/11 : He ordant him & made him a fole sage and come into Cecile to serve the king.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)208 : Whan this jornay was don, there durst no man telle the Kyng of Frauns tydyngis save a sage fool.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.278 : Sumtyme wern two foolys dwellynge in a lordis court: Þe on was a fool sage, þe oþir was a naturel fool.
e
- (1179) in Pipe R.Soc.2899 : Simon le Sage.
- (1212) CRR(2) 6244 : Johannes le Sage.
- (c1216-24) Cart.Oseney in OHS 89128 : Sciant quod ego Adam Sage..dedi deo & ecclesie sancte Marie Osen', [etc.].
- (1236-8) Cart.Oseney in OHS 90483 : Adam Sage.
- (1260) Assize R.Yks.in YASRS 44117 : Rob. le Sage.
- (1351) Court R.Colchester 1221 : Robert Sage.