safe
pronunciation
How to pronounce safe in British English:
UK [seɪf]
How to pronounce safe in American English:
US [seɪf]
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- Noun:
- strongbox where valuables can be kept safe
- a ventilated or refrigerated cupboard for securing provisions from pests
- contraceptive device consisting of a thin rubber or latex sheath worn over the penis during intercourse
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- Adjective:
- free from danger or the risk of harm
- of an undertaking
- having reached a base without being put out
- financially sound
- in safekeeping
Word Origin
- safe
- safe: [13] Like save, and indeed salvage and salvation, safe comes from Latin salvus ‘uninjured’. It reached English via Old French sauf. Salvus itself went back to a prehistoric Indo-European *solwos ‘whole’, which came from the same base that produced English soldier, solemn, and solid. The noun safe ‘strongbox’ [15] was originally save, a derivative of the verb, but by the late 17th century it had, under the influence of the adjective, become safe.The plant-name sage [14] comes via Old French sauge from Latin salvia, etymologically the ‘healing’ plant, a derivative of salvus (English acquired salvia itself in the 19th century).=> sage, salute, salvage, salvation, salvia, save, soldier, solemn, solid
- safe (n.)
- "chest for keeping food or valuables," early 15c., save, from Middle French en sauf "in safety," from sauf (see safe (adj.)). Spelling with -f- first recorded 1680s, from influence of safe (adj.).
- safe (adj.)
- c. 1300, "unscathed, unhurt, uninjured; free from danger or molestation, in safety, secure; saved spiritually, redeemed, not damned;" from Old French sauf "protected, watched-over; assured of salvation," from Latin salvus "uninjured, in good health, safe," related to salus "good health," saluber "healthful," all from PIE *solwos from root *sol- "whole" (cognates: Latin solidus "solid," Sanskrit sarvah "uninjured, intact, whole," Avestan haurva- "uninjured, intact," Old Persian haruva-, Greek holos "whole"). As a quasi-preposition from c. 1300, on model of French and Latin cognates. From late 14c. as "rescued, delivered; protected; left alive, unkilled." Meaning "not exposed to danger" (of places) is attested from late 14c.; of actions, etc., "free from risk," first recorded 1580s. Meaning "sure, reliable, not a danger" is from c. 1600. Sense of "conservative, cautious" is from 1823. Paired alliteratively with sound (adj.) from late 14c. The noun safe-conduct (late 13c.) is from Old French sauf-conduit (13c.).
Example
- 1. How safe is america now ?
- 2. Can nuclear power be safe ?
- 3. Are mobile financial apps safe ?
- 4. But how safe are e-cigarettes ?
- 5. I always practice safe sex .