Wise man wasted ages (4)

I believe the answer is:

sage

'wise man' is the definition.
(sage is a kind of wise man)

'wasted ages' is the wordplay.
'wasted' is an anagram indicator.
'ages' with letters rearranged gives 'SAGE'.

(Other definitions for sage that I've seen before include "Oracle; herb" , "Learned" , "Salvia" , "Clary" , "Fragrant herb or wise man" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.

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