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feral

 [feer-uhl, fer-]   Origin

fe·ral

1   [feer-uhl, fer-]
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; < Medieval Latin, Late Latin ferālis bestial, wild, equivalent to Latin fer(a) wild beast + -ālis -al1

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Feral is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged

fe·ral

2   [feer-uhl, fer-]
adjective
1.
causing death; fatal.
2.
funereal; gloomy.
Origin:
1615–25; < Latin fērālis of the dead, funerary, fatal
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
feral1 (ˈfɪərəl, ˈfɛr-)
 
—adj
1.  Also: ferine (of animals and plants) existing in a wild or uncultivated state, esp after being domestic or cultivated
2.  Also: ferine savage; brutal
3.  derogatory, slang (Austral) (of a person) tending to be interested in environmental issues and having a rugged, unkempt appearance
 
—n
4.  derogatory, slang (Austral) a person who displays such tendencies and appearance
5.  slang (Austral) disgusting
6.  slang (Austral) excellent
 
[C17: from Medieval Latin ferālis, from Latin fera a wild beast, from ferus savage]
 
ferity1
 
—n

feral2 (ˈfɪərəl, ˈfɛr-)
 
—adj
1.  astrology associated with death
2.  gloomy; funereal
 
[C17: from Latin fērālis relating to corpses; perhaps related to ferre to carry]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

feral
c.1600, from M.Fr. feral "wild," from L. fera, in phrase fera bestia "wild beast," from ferus "wild" (see fierce).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
feral   (fîr'əl, fěr'-)  Pronunciation Key 
Existing in a wild or untamed state, either naturally or having returned to such a state from domestication.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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