[wild] adj [ME wilde, fr. OE; akin to OHG wildi wild, W gwyllt] (bef. 12c) 1 a: living in a state of nature and not ordinarily tame or domesticated "~ duck" b (1): growing or produced without human aid or care "~ honey" (2): related to or resembling a corresponding cultivated or domesticated organism c: of or relating to wild organisms "the ~ state"
2. a: not inhabited or cultivated "~ 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 "~ with grief"; also: passionately eager or enthusiastic "was ~ to own a toy train --J. C. Furnas" b: marked by turbulent agitation: stormy "a ~ night" c: going beyond normal or conventional bounds: fantastic "~ ideas"; also: sensational d: indicative of strong passion, desire, or emotion "a ~ 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 "~ spelling --C. W. Cunnington" "the throw was ~"; also: tending to throw inaccurately b: having no basis in known or surmised fact "a ~ guess"
7. of a playing card: able to represent any card designated by the holder -- wild.ish adj -- wild.ness n
[2]wild adv (1549): in a wild manner: as a: without regulation or control b: off an intended or expected course [3]wild n (1596) 1: a sparsely inhabited or uncultivated region or tract: wilderness
2: a wild, free, or natural state or existence