Word Study
saxon
CIDE DICTIONARY
saxon, n. [L. Saxo, pl. Saxones, from the Saxon national name; cf. AS. pl. Seaxe, Seaxan, fr. seax a knife, a short sword, a dagger (akin to OHG. sahs, and perhaps to L. saxum rock, stone, knives being originally made of stone); and cf. G. Sachse, pl. Sachsen. Cf. Saxifrage.].
- One of a nation or people who formerly dwelt in the northern part of Germany, and who, with other Teutonic tribes, invaded and conquered England in the fifth and sixth centuries. [1913 Webster]
- The language of the Saxons; Anglo-Saxon. [1913 Webster]
saxon, a.
Of or pertaining to the Saxons, their country, or their language. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
saxon, n. & adj.
--n.
1 hist. a a member of the Germanic people that conquered parts of England in 5th-6th c. b (usu. Old Saxon) the language of the Saxons.
2 = ANGLO-SAXON.
3 a native of modern Saxony in Germany.
4 the Germanic (as opposed to Latin or Romance) elements of English.
--adj.
1 hist. of or concerning the Saxons.
2 belonging to or originating from the Saxon language or Old English.
3 of or concerning modern Saxony or Saxons.
--n.
1 hist. a a member of the Germanic people that conquered parts of England in 5th-6th c. b (usu. Old Saxon) the language of the Saxons.
2 = ANGLO-SAXON.
3 a native of modern Saxony in Germany.
4 the Germanic (as opposed to Latin or Romance) elements of English.
--adj.
1 hist. of or concerning the Saxons.
2 belonging to or originating from the Saxon language or Old English.
3 of or concerning modern Saxony or Saxons.
Idiom
Saxon architecture the form of Romanesque architecture preceding the Norman in England. Saxon blue a solution of indigo in sulphuric acid as a dye.
Derivative
Saxondom n. Saxonism n. Saxonist n. Saxonize v.tr. & intr. (also -ise).
Etymology
ME f. OF f. LL Saxo -onis f. Gk Saxones (pl.) f. WG: cf. OE Seaxan, Seaxe (pl.)
ROGET THESAURUS
saxon
Plainness
N plainness, simplicity, severity, plain terms, plain English, Saxon English, household words, plain, simple, unornamented, unadorned, unvarnished, homely, homespun, neat, severe, chaste, pure, Saxon, commonplace, matter-of- fact, natural, prosaic, dry, unvaried, monotonous, in plain terms, in plain words, in plain English, in plain common parlance, point-blank.Elegance
N elegance, purity, grace, ease, gracefulness, readiness, concinnity, euphony, numerosity, Atticism, classicalism, classicism, well rounded periods, well turned periods, flowing periods, the right word in the right place, antithesis, purist, elegant, polished, classical, Attic, correct, Ciceronian, artistic, chaste, pure, Saxon, academical, graceful, easy, readable, fluent, flowing, tripping, unaffected, natural, unlabored, mellifluous, euphonious, euphemism, euphemistic, numerose, rhythmical, felicitous, happy, neat, well put, neatly put, well expressed, neatly expressed.For further exploring for "saxon" in Webster Dictionary Online