wild

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English wilde, from Old English; akin to Old High German wildi wild, Welsh gwyllt Date: before 12th century 1. a. living in a state of nature and not ordinarily tame or domesticated <

wild ducks

> b. (1) growing or produced without human aid or care <

wild honey

> (2) related to or resembling a corresponding cultivated or domesticated organism c. of or relating to wild organisms <

the wild state

> 2. a. not inhabited or cultivated <

wild land

> b. not amenable to human habitation or cultivation; also desolate 3. a. (1) not subject to restraint or regulation ; uncontrolled; also unruly (2) emotionally overcome <

wild with grief

>; also passionately eager or enthusiastic <

was wild to own a toy train — J. C. Furnas

> b. marked by turbulent agitation ; stormy <

a wild night

> c. going beyond normal or conventional bounds ; fantastic <

wild ideas

>; also sensational d. indicative of strong passion, desire, or emotion <

a wild gleam of delight in his eyes — Irish Digest

> 4. uncivilized, barbaric 5. characteristic of, appropriate to, or expressive of wilderness, wildlife, or a simple or uncivilized society 6. a. deviating from the intended or expected course <

wild spelling — C. W. Cunnington

> <

the throw was wild

>; also tending to throw inaccurately <

a wild pitcher

> b. having no basis in known or surmised fact <

a wild guess

> 7. of a playing card able to represent any card designated by the holder • wildish adjective • wildness noun II. noun Date: 13th century 1. a sparsely inhabited or uncultivated region or tract ; wilderness 2. a wild, free, or natural state or existence III. adverb Date: circa 1562 in a wild manner: as a. without regulation or control <

plants that grow wild

> b. off an intended or expected course