The adjective savage that we use today started out with a considerably different meaning. The first know root of the word originated in 1300 A.D Romanian as the word Selvatico, meaning wild. The word then shifted into the English word we know today as Savage. The original definition of Savage is “That is in a state of nature, wild.” (OED 522). The OED’s first definition describes nature as being wild. Another early definition also uses savage as, “Of animals: Wild, undomesticated, untamed.” (OED 522), now referring to animals becoming wild not just nature on itself. This change narrows down the word’s original broad definition. As the advancement of time continues to occur, the definition of the word continues to change. During the 1400s,
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During 1588 Savage was added as the OED as, “A person living at the lowest state of development or cultivatized, wild person.” (523). This time period shows the beginning of the word relating to a human figure rather than the original wild animals. An interesting fact about the word savage is that in 1892 a man named Arthur Savage got his last name entered in the famous dictionary. Arthur Savage was an inventor in Brooklyn New York and owned a firearms company named, “Savage Arms Company” (OED 523). This company had the brand name “Savage” eventually earning a spot in the prestigious dictionary. The most up to date definition of Savage in the OED is, “to act the savage; to indulge in cruel barbarous deeds.” (523). The usage of the word today has an identical meaning. Savage referees today as a slang word meaning someone who is cruel or mean without the care of punishment. The word Savage has changed multiple times since its origin in the 1300s. Although the meaning of this word changes overtime, a six-letter word that started in Romania is commonly used in English 716 years
During 1588 Savage was added as the OED as, “A person living at the lowest state of development or cultivatized, wild person.” (523). This time period shows the beginning of the word relating to a human figure rather than the original wild animals. An interesting fact about the word savage is that in 1892 a man named Arthur Savage got his last name entered in the famous dictionary. Arthur Savage was an inventor in Brooklyn New York and owned a firearms company named, “Savage Arms Company” (OED 523). This company had the brand name “Savage” eventually earning a spot in the prestigious dictionary. The most up to date definition of Savage in the OED is, “to act the savage; to indulge in cruel barbarous deeds.” (523). The usage of the word today has an identical meaning. Savage referees today as a slang word meaning someone who is cruel or mean without the care of punishment. The word Savage has changed multiple times since its origin in the 1300s. Although the meaning of this word changes overtime, a six-letter word that started in Romania is commonly used in English 716 years