A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513-1605
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Sage, adj. Also: saig(e, seige, seage; sauge. [ME and e.m.E. sage (1297), OF savie, saive, sage (c1050, 1080 and 1119 in Larousse), vulgar L. *sabi(d)us, f. L. sapidus wise, prudent.] Of a person: Wise, judicious. Also absol. b. Of a person's opinions or advice.(a) 1513 Doug. xiii vi 138.
The grave faderis … In thar digest decretis sage and stabill 1562-3 Winȝet I 5/14.
Ȝour wyse, saige, and grave familiar servands a1570-86 J. Maitland Maitland Folio MS 434/11.
Schaw thy self bayth sage [Sat. P. xxvii 11 sauge, v.r. saig], scharpe & sinceir 1581 Sempill Sat. P. xliii 202.
Daft fulis defyis him [sc. the Earl of Morton] because thay finde him sage a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xiv 45.(b) c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS 88b/11.
Sen tho standis in so tendir aige That natur to thé ȝit wosdome denyis Thairfoir submit thé to thy counsale seige [Maitl. F. 396/11 sage] 1559 Maitland Maitland Folio MS 32/15.
Bot and this stryf and truble perseveir He sall be seage [Maitl. Q. 23/15 sage] that sall escape vnsarit a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS 445/3.
Cheis thi counsell of guid iust men and seige [Maitl. Q. 178/3 sage]absol. a1568 Scott i 33.
Cast thy consate be counsale of the sage a1585 Maitland Quarto MS 250/35.
Lo heir a toy and licht conset … Both for the auld and sage vnset And also for the wyseb. 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (STS) Adhort. 33.
With prettie problemis and sentences maist sage a1578 Pitsc. I 76/29.
Quhat honour comes throw wyse and seage counsall
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"Sage adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sage_adj>
