Wild \Wild\, a. [Compar. Wilder; superl. Wildest.]
[OE.
wilde, AS. wilde; akin to OFries. wilde, D. wild, OS. & OHG.
wildi, G. wild, Sw. & Dan. vild, Icel. villr wild,
bewildered, astray, Goth. wilpeis wild, and G. & OHG. wild
game, deer; of uncertain origin.]
1. Living in a state of nature; inhabiting natural haunts, as
the forest or open field; not familiar with, or not easily
approached by, man; not tamed or domesticated; as, a wild
boar; a wild ox; a wild cat.
Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that
way. --Shak.
2. Growing or produced without culture; growing or prepared
without the aid and care of man; native; not cultivated;
brought forth by unassisted nature or by animals not
domesticated; as, wild parsnip, wild camomile, wild
strawberry, wild honey.
The woods and desert caves, With wild thyme and
gadding vine o'ergrown. --Milton.
3. Desert; not inhabited or cultivated; as, wild land. ``To
trace the forests wild.'' --Shak.
4. Savage; uncivilized; not refined by culture; ferocious;
rude; as, wild natives of Africa or America.
5. Not submitted to restraint, training, or regulation;
turbulent; tempestuous; violent; ungoverned; licentious;
inordinate; disorderly; irregular; fanciful; imaginary;
visionary; crazy. ``Valor grown wild by pride.'' --Prior.
``A wild, speculative project.'' --Swift.
What are these So withered and so wild in their
attire ? --Shak.
With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes
Wild work in heaven. --Milton.
The wild winds howl. --Addison.
Search then the ruling passion, there, alone The
wild are constant, and the cunning known. --Pope.
6. Exposed to the wind and sea; unsheltered; as, a wild
roadstead.
7. Indicating strong emotion, intense excitement, or
?ewilderment; as, a wild look.
8. (Naut.) Hard to steer; -- said of a vessel.
Note: Many plants are named by prefixing wild to the names of
other better known or cultivated plants to which they a
bear a real or fancied resemblance; as, wild allspice,
wild pink, etc. See the Phrases below.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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