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Feral

10 dictionary results for: feral

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

fe·ral1

[feer-uh

l, fer-] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	existing in a natural state, as animals or plants; not domesticated or cultivated; wild.

2.	having reverted to the wild state, as from domestication: a pack of feral dogs roaming the woods.

3.	of or characteristic of wild animals; ferocious; brutal.

[Origin: 1595–1605; < ML, LL ferālis bestial, wild, equiv. to L fer(a) wild beast + -ālis -al¹

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

fe·ral2

[feer-uh

l, fer-] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	causing death; fatal.

2.	funereal; gloomy.

[Origin: 1615–25; < L férālis of the dead, funerary, fatal

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

fe·ral (fîr'əl, fěr'-) Pronunciation Key
adj.

1. Existing in a wild or untamed state.
2. Having returned to an untamed state from domestication.
Of or suggestive of a wild animal; savage: a feral grin.

[From Latin fera, wild animal, from ferus, wild; see ghwer- in Indo-European roots.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
feral

1604, from M.Fr. feral "wild," from L. fera, in phrase fera bestia "wild beast," from ferus "wild" (see fierce).

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

feral
adjective
wild and menacing; "a pack of feral dogs"

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The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

feral (fîr'əl, fěr'-) Pronunciation Key
Existing in a wild or untamed state, either naturally or having returned to such a state from domestication.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Feral

Fe"ral\, a. [L. ferus. See Fierce.] (Bot. & Zo["o]l.) Wild; untamed; ferine; not domesticated; -- said of beasts, birds, and plants.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Feral

Fe"ral\, a. [L. feralis, belonging to the dead.] Funereal; deadly; fatal; dangerous. [R.] "Feral accidents." --Burton.

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Acronym Finder - Cite This Source - Share This

FERAL

FERAL: in Acronym Finder