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Fairy vs Sage - What's the difference?

fairy | sage |

As a noun fairy

is (uncountable|obsolete) the realm of faerie; enchantment, illusion.

As a verb sage is

first-person singular indicative present form of .

fairy

English

(wikipedia fairy)

Alternative forms

* faery * faerie

Noun

(fairies)
  • (uncountable, obsolete) the realm of faerie; enchantment, illusion.
  • A mythical being who had magical powers, known in many sizes and descriptions, although often depicted in modern illustrations only as small and spritely with gauze-like wings; A sprite.
  • (Northern England, US, derogatory, colloquial) a male homosexual, especially one who is effeminate.
  • (paganism) A nature spirit revered in modern paganism.
  • Two species of hummingbird in the genus Heliothryx.
  • Synonyms

    * (mythical being) fay, fey, fae, sprite * (male homosexual) fag (US), faggot (US), poof (UK), queen (wikipedia fairy)

    Derived terms

    * airy-fairy * fairy bread * fairy chess * fairy circle * fairy cycle * fairy dust * fairy floss * fairy godmother * fairy lights * fairy lily * fairy primrose * fairy ring * fairy ring champignon * fairy shrimp * fairy story * fairy tale * fairy thorn * fairy wren * fairyfloss * fairyland * fairy-tale, fairytale * tooth fairy * water fairy

    sage

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) sage (11th century), from . The noun meaning "man of profound wisdom" is recorded from circa 1300. Originally applied to the Seven Sages of Greece .

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Wise.
  • * Shakespeare
  • All you sage counsellors, hence!
  • * Milton
  • commanders, who, cloaking their fear under show of sage advice, counselled the general to retreat
  • (obsolete) grave; serious; solemn
  • * Milton
  • [Great bards] in sage and solemn tunes have sung.
    Synonyms
    * sagacious

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A wise person or spiritual teacher; a man or woman of gravity and wisdom, especially, a teacher venerable for years, and of sound judgment and prudence; a grave or stoic philosopher.
  • * 1748 , (David Hume), Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral , London: Oxford University Press (1973), ยง 34:
  • We aspire to the magnanimous firmness of the philosophic sage .
    Synonyms
    * deep thinker, egghead, intellectual, pundit
    Derived terms
    * sagely * sageness * sage on the stage * Seven Sages

    See also

    * rishi * maharishi

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) sauge, from (etyl) salvia, from , see safe .

    Noun

    (-)
  • The plant Salvia officinalis and savory spice produced from it; also planted for ornamental purposes.
  • Synonyms
    * (herb) ramona
    Derived terms
    * sagebush * Sage Derby * sage dog * sage green * sage grouse * sage tea * sage thrasher * wood sage
    See also
    * salvia

    Etymology 3

    .

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (Internet slang)
  • Verb

    (sag)
  • (Internet slang) The act of using the word or option sage in the email field or a checkbox of an imageboard when posting a reply
  • Usage notes

    * This word is specific to imageboards. The original purpose of sage is to not bump a thread if one deems one's own post to be of little value.