Definitions for wilderness
ˈwɪl dər nɪswilder·ness

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. wildernessnoun

   (politics) a state of disfavor

   "he led the Democratic party back from the wilderness"

2. Wildernessnoun

   a wooded region in northeastern Virginia near Spotsylvania where bloody but inconclusive battles were fought in the American Civil War

3. wilderness, wildnoun

   a wild and uninhabited area left in its natural condition

   "it was a wilderness preserved for the hawks and mountaineers"

4. wildernessnoun

   a bewildering profusion

   "the duties of citizenship are lost sight of in the wilderness of interests of individuals and groups"; "a wilderness of masts in the harbor"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. wildernessnoun

   An unsettled and uncultivated tract of land left in its natural state

2. Etymology: Either from unattested * (cognate with Dutch wildernis, German Wildnis), or from Old English wilddeoren + -nes.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Wildernessnoun

   Etymology: from wild.

   1. A desert; a tract of solitude and savageness.

   He travell’d through wide wasteful ground,
   That nought but desert wilderness shew’d all around. F. Qu.

   When as the land she saw no more appear,
   But a wild wilderness of waters deep,
   Then ’gan she greatly to lament and weep. Edmund Spenser.

   O my poor kingdom, sick with civil blows!
   When that my care could not with-hold thy riots,
   What wilt thou do when riot is thy care?
   O, thou wilt be a wilderness again,
   Peopled with wolves, thy old inhabitants. William Shakespeare.

   But who can always on the billows lie?
   The wat’ry wilderness yields no supply. Edmund Waller.

   All those animals have been obliged to change their woods and wildernesses for lodgings in cities. Scriblerus Club .

   2. The state of being wild or disorderly. Not in use.

   The paths and bow’rs, doubt not, but our joint hands
   Will keep from wilderness with ease. John Milton.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Wilderness

   Wilderness or wildlands (usually in the plural) are natural environments on Earth that have not been significantly modified by human activity or any nonurbanized land not under extensive agricultural cultivation. The term has traditionally referred to terrestrial environments, though growing attention is being placed on marine wilderness. Recent maps of wilderness suggest it covers roughly one quarter of Earth's terrestrial surface, but is being rapidly degraded by human activity. Even less wilderness remains in the ocean, with only 13.2% free from intense human activity.Some governments establish protection for wilderness areas by law to not only preserve what already exists, but also to promote and advance a natural expression and development. These can be set up in preserves, conservation preserves, national forests, national parks and even in urban areas along rivers, gulches or otherwise undeveloped areas. Often these areas are considered important for the survival of certain species, biodiversity, ecological studies, conservation, solitude and recreation. They may also preserve historic genetic traits and provide habitat for wild flora and fauna that may be difficult to recreate in zoos, arboretums or laboratories.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Wildernessverb

   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

2. Wildernessverb

   a disorderly or neglected place

3. Wildernessverb

   quality or state of being wild; wildness

4. Etymology: [OE. wildernesse, wilderne,probably from AS. wildor a wild beast; cf. D. wildernis wilderness. See Wilder, v. t.]

FreebaseRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Wilderness

   Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with roads, pipelines or other industrial infrastructure." Wilderness areas can be found in preserves, estates, farms, conservation preserves, ranches, National Forests, National Parks and even in urban areas along rivers, gulches or otherwise undeveloped areas. These areas are considered important for the survival of certain species, biodiversity, ecological studies, conservation, solitude, and recreation. Wilderness is deeply valued for cultural, spiritual, moral, and aesthetic reasons. Some nature writers believe wilderness areas are vital for the human spirit and creativity. They may also preserve historic genetic traits and provide habitat for wild flora and fauna that may be difficult to recreate in zoos, arboretums or laboratories. The word wilderness derives from the notion of "wildness"—in other words, that which is not controllable by humans. The word's etymology is from the wildeornes, which in turn derives from wildeor meaning wild beast From this point of view, it is the wildness of a place that makes it a wilderness. The mere presence or activity of people does not disqualify an area from being "wilderness." Many ecosystems that are, or have been, inhabited or influenced by activities of people may still be considered "wild." This way of looking at wilderness includes areas within which natural processes operate without human interference.

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Wilderness

   a district covered with brushwood in Virginia, U.S., the scene of a two days' terrible conflict between the Federals and the Confederates on the 5th and 6th May 1864.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Wilderness

   Environment un-modified by human activity. Areas in which natural processes operate without human interference.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. wilderness

   Song lyrics by wilderness -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by wilderness on the Lyrics.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. WILDERNESS

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Wilderness is ranked #160975 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Wilderness surname appeared 100 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Wilderness.
   
   78% or 78 total occurrences were Black.
   19% or 19 total occurrences were White.

Matched Categories

1. • Disfavor
   • Forest
   • Geographical Area
   • Politics
   • Profusion

How to pronounce wilderness?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say wilderness in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of wilderness in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of wilderness in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of wilderness in a Sentence

1. David Smith:

   There are about a dozen instances of extensive vehicle traffic off roads and in some cases into wilderness. We had destruction of government property with the cutting of chains and locks for people to access campgrounds, we've never seen this level of out-of-bounds camping. Every day-use area was occupied every evening. Joshua trees were actually cut down in order to make new roads.

2. James Russell Lowell:

   One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.

3. William Cowper:

   Oh to have a lodge in some vast wilderness. Where rumors of oppression and deceit, of unsuccessful and successful wars may never reach me anymore.

4. Brian Laundrie:

   Brian claims he wants to sit in the background while we search for Gabby in the wilderness of the Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, brian left Gabby in the wilderness with grizzly bears and wolves while he sits in the comfort of his home. In his home!

5. Alan Alda:

   You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself.

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