wilderness



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Wilderness \Wil"der*ness\, n. [OE. wildernesse,
   wilderne,probably from AS. wildor a wild beast; cf. D.
   wildernis wilderness. See Wilder, v. t.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. A tract of land, or a region, uncultivated and uninhabited
      by human beings, whether a forest or a wide, barren plain;
      a wild; a waste; a desert; a pathless waste of any kind.
      [1913 Webster]

            The wat'ry wilderness yields no supply. --Waller.
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   2. A disorderly or neglected place. --Cowper.
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   3. Quality or state of being wild; wildness. [Obs.]
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            These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint
            hands.
            Will keep from wilderness with ease.  --Milton.
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