Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The state or character of being wild, in any sense.
  • noun A wild place or country; a wilderness.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The quality or state of being wild; an uncultivated or untamed state; disposition to rove or go unrestrained; rudeness; savageness; irregularity; distraction.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun the quality of being wild or untamed

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a feeling of extreme emotional intensity
  • noun the property of being wild or turbulent
  • noun an unruly disposition to do as one pleases
  • noun an intractably barbarous or uncultivated state of nature

Etymologies

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Examples

  • And, cognizant of Thoreau's belief that "In wildness is the preservation of the world;"

    Montana To Consider Bill Protecting Fish Habitat and Forest Jobs 2009

  • And, cognizant of Thoreau's belief that "In wildness is the preservation of the world;"

    Montana To Consider Bill Protecting Fish Habitat and Forest Jobs 2009

  • That is some Anglo-American wildness from the back of the wayback.

    My neologism | clusterflock 2009

  • "Their animal" is still there, and will react to events and feelings, giving changelings 'emotional reactions a certain wildness which I love.

    Archive 2009-07-01 Nalini Singh 2009

  • "Their animal" is still there, and will react to events and feelings, giving changelings 'emotional reactions a certain wildness which I love.

    Branded By Fire Release Day!! Nalini Singh 2009

  • I never saw a more interesting creature: his eyes have generally an expression of wildness, and even madness; but there are moments when, if any one performs an act of kindness towards him, or does him any the most trifling service, his whole countenance is lighted up, as it were, with a beam of benevolence and sweetness that I never saw equalled.

    Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus Mary Shelley 2004

  • I never saw a more interesting creature: his eyes have generally an expression of wildness, and even madness; but there are moments when, if any one performs an act of kindness towards him, or does him any the most trifling service, his whole countenance is lighted up, as it were, with a beam of benevolence and sweetness that I never saw equalled.

    Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus Mary Shelley 2004

  • I never saw a more interesting creature: his eyes have generally an expression of wildness, and even madness; but there are moments when, if any one performs an act of kindness towards him, or does him any the most trifling service, his whole countenance is lighted up, as it were, with a beam of benevolence and sweetness that I never saw equalled.

    Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus Mary Shelley 2004

  • But hands-on management in the name of wildness itself rather than human appetite or aesthetics - the core distinction of what is happening here - is a change in how people relate to nature in set-apart corners of the world like Yellowstone.

    NYT > Home Page By KIRK JOHNSON 2011

  • But hands-on management in the name of wildness itself rather than human appetite or aesthetics - the core distinction of what is happening here - is a change in how people relate to nature in set-apart corners of the world like Yellowstone.

    NYT > Home Page By KIRK JOHNSON 2011

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