Savagery
/ˈsæv.ɪdʒ.əri/noun
The quality of being fierce, brutal, or uncivilized.
Did you know?English savage ultimately comes from Latin silvaticus, meaning “of the woods,” so the word’s oldest root is tied to the forest rather than innate cruelty.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
silvaticus
“of the woods; wild”
Late Latin
Latin
salvaticus
“wild, uncultivated”
Old French
Old French
sauvage
“wild; untamed”
Middle English
English
savage
“wild; uncivilized; fierce”
16th Century
English
savagery
“the condition or quality of being savage”
Modern English
English
savagery
“brutal or ferocious behavior”
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