I. noun
or sil·van ˈsilvən
( -s )
Etymology: Latin silvanus, sylvanus, from Silvanus, Sylvanus, god of woods and trees, from silva, sylva forest + -anus -an (n. suffix)
1. : a deity or spirit frequenting groves or woods
2. : a person, animal, or bird living in or frequenting the woods or forest
II. adjective
also silvan “
Etymology: Medieval Latin silvanus, sylvanus, from Latin silva, sylva + -anus -an (adjective suffix)
1.
a. : living or located in the woods or forest
a group of sylvan beings — J.G.Frazer
still others, swamp and sylvan types mainly, never leave their native haunts — V.M.Ehlers & E.W.Steel
b. : of, relating to, or characteristic of the woods or forest
owned the whole mountain, led a sylvan life there — Vincent Sheean
some such sylvan instrument of music — Nathaniel Hawthorne
2.
a. : made, shaped, or formed of woods or trees
living in a sylvan bower
an unbroken expanse of sylvan vegetation
b. : abounding in woods, groves, or trees : woody , wooded
through which wind sylvan drives and paths edged with laurel — American Guide Series: Connecticut
a sylvan setting for the Singing Tower — American Guide Series: Florida
III.
variant of silvan