The Herb and the Wise Man Share a Root
A sage is a wise person and also a herb. Both come from Latin words about health and knowing.
A sage is a profoundly wise person, and also a grey-green aromatic herb. They come from different Latin words that nonetheless rhyme in sense. The wise man is from *sapere*, to taste or to be wise — the same root as *savour* and as *homo sapiens*. The herb is from *salvia*, from *salvus*, safe or healthy, because it was valued as a medicine. A medieval proverb asked why anyone with sage in the garden should ever die.
- A wise person. *An ancient sage.*
- Wise. *Sage advice.*
- A herb. *Sage and onion.*
- Salvia — the plant genus. *Salvia.*
- Latin — *sapere*, to be wise. *The wise sense.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | sage | A sage. |
| Adjective | sage | Sage advice. |
| Related | sapient | Sapient. |
| Related | savour | To savour. |
| Latin | salvia | Sage the herb. |
- The old sage spoke.Person.
- Sage and onion stuffing.Herb.
- Salvia means healthy.Etymology.
The sapere family
- Sage — wise
- Sapient — having wisdom, as in *homo sapiens*
- Savour — to taste, the literal sense of the root
- Savvy — through Spanish *sabe*, he knows
- Insipid — literally without taste
The wise sense is Latin *sapere*, to be wise. The herb is Latin *salvia*, from *salvus*, healthy.
Are the herb and the wise man the same word?
No. The herb comes from salvia, meaning healthy; the wise man from sapere, to be wise.
Is savvy related?
Yes, through Spanish sabe, from the same Latin verb sapere.