Etymology : Middle English sauf, from Old French, from Latin salvus safe, healthy; akin to Latin solidus solid, Greek holos whole, safe, Sanskrit sarva entire
Pronunciation : 'sAf
Function : adjective
Date : 14th century
1. adsecurely; guardedly; in a safe manner.
2. In a safe manner; danger, injury, loss, or evil consequences. with safety; in a safe manner; "we are safely out of there".
3. Free from harm, injury, or risk; untouched or unthreatened by danger or injury; unharmed; unhurt; secure; whole; as, safe from disease; safe from storms; safe from foes.
4. Conferring safety; securing from harm; not exposing to danger; confining securely; to be relied upon; not dangerous; as, a safe harbor; a safe bridge, etc.
5. Incapable of doing harm; no longer dangerous; in secure care or custody; as, the prisoner is safe.
6. A place for keeping things in safety.
7. A strong and fireproof receptacle for containing money, valuable papers, or the like.
8. A ventilated or refrigerated chest or closet for securing provisions from noxious animals or insects.
9. To render safe; to make right. strongbox where valuables can be kept safe a ventilated or refrigerated cupboard for securing provisions from pests of an undertaking free from danger or the risk of harm; "a safe trip"; "you will be safe here"; "a safe place"; "a safe bet" in safekeeping; "your secret is safe with me".
10. 1. If something is done safely, it is done in a way that makes it unlikely that anyone will be harmed. The waste is safely locked away until it is no longer radioactive `Drive safely,' he said and waved goodbye.
11. You also use safely to say that there is no risk of a situation being changed. Once events are safely in the past, this idea seems to become less alarming see also:
safe. in a way that is safe.