wilderness

¹

[ wil-der-nis ]

noun

1. a wild and uncultivated region, as of forest or desert, uninhabited or inhabited only by wild animals; a tract of wasteland.
2. a tract of land officially designated as such and protected by the U.S. government.
3. any desolate tract, as of open sea.
4. a part of a garden set apart for plants growing with unchecked luxuriance.
5. a bewildering mass or collection.

Wilderness

²

[ wil-der-nis ]

noun

1. a wooded area in NE Virginia: several battles fought here in 1864 between armies of Grant and Lee.

wilderness

¹

/ ˈwɪldənɪs /

noun

1. a wild, uninhabited, and uncultivated region
2. any desolate tract or area
3. a confused mass or collection
4. a voice in the wilderness or a voice crying in the wilderness
   a person, group, etc, making a suggestion or plea that is ignored
5. in the wilderness
   no longer having influence, recognition, or publicity

Wilderness

²

/ ˈwɪldənɪs /

noun

1. the Wilderness
   the barren regions to the south and east of Palestine, esp those in which the Israelites wandered before entering the Promised Land and in which Christ fasted for 40 days and nights

Word History and Origins

Origin of wilderness¹

1150–1200; Middle English; Old English *wil ( d ) dēornes, equivalent to either wil ( d ) dēor wild beast ( wild, deer ) + -nes -ness, or wilddēoren wild, savage ( wilddēor + -en -en ² ) + ( -n ) es -ness; probably reinforced by Middle English wildernes, genitive of wildern wilderness (noun use of Old English wilddēoren ), in phrases like wildernes land land of wilderness

Word History and Origins

Origin of wilderness¹

Old English wildēornes, from wildēor wild beast (from wild + dēor beast, deer ) + -ness ; related to Middle Dutch wildernisse, German Wildernis

Synonym Study

See desert ¹.

Example Sentences

The Union of Concerned Scientists, the National Wildlife Federation, Earth First and The Wilderness Society, among others, all published articles or ran campaigns against runaway population growth well into the late 1990s.

From Salon

This essay is adapted from the forthcoming book “Fabricating Wilderness: The Habitat Dioramas of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.”

From Los Angeles Times

Wilderness permits are required only for overnight trips.

From Los Angeles Times

Logan was also known for his role as Skip Robinson in the 1975 film “The Adventures of the Wilderness Family.”

From Los Angeles Times

Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park provides a massive hiking space for dogs, leash optional.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• back country
• desert
• forest
• jungle
• outback
• wasteland