Middle English Dictionary Entry
wīld(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wīld(e n. |
| Etymology | From wīld(e adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A state of unrestrained freedom or lack of control, wildness; at ~, ?not mentally sound, bewildered, mistaken; ?out of control, unrestrained.
Associated quotations
- (1477) Paston (EETS)1.606 : Trust hym never the more for the bylle that I sent yow by hym, but as a man at wylde, for every thyng that he told me is not trewe.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)15/45 : The grete beestes…the woode haunten and adorneth al maner forestes, and heerdes gone to wilde…nothing is werse than the beestes that shulden ben tame, if they cacche her wildenesse and ginne ayen waxe ramage.
2.
(a) A desert place, a wilderness; wildis wedes, ?fig. garments associated with the secular world presented as a wasteland; on ~, ?away from an encampment, gone astray [may belong to sense 1.];
(b) the untamed sea, wild waves.
Associated quotations
a
- a1300 No more (Dgb 2)3 : Forsake ich wille þis world-is fe, þis wildis wedis, þis folen gle…becomen ich wil frere.
- a1500(?c1400) Triam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)801 : Every knyȝt hys hors hath nome, Some were wey and on wylde.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)558 : Heo fusden from stronde…heo wenden vt i wide sæ þa wilde wurðen itemede.
3.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1200) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames383 : William de Wilde.
- (1256) Court R.Ramsey34 : Walterus de la Wylde.
- (1320) in Sundby Dial.Wor.()79 : Thom. atte Willde.
- (1347) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames ()383 : William atte Wylde.