† wildern, a. and n. Obs.
Forms: 1 wilddeoren, 3–5 wilderne, (3 wulderne), 4 wildern, 5 wylderne; 3–4 wildren, 4 wildrin, wyldren.
[OE. wilddéoren, f. wilddéor wild deer + -en4.]
A. adj. Wild, savage, desert.
| a 1050 Liber Scintill. xxv. (1889) 99 Cum feralibus dentibus, mid wilddeorenum toþum. a 1300 Cursor M. 3081 [Ysmael] wond als a wildren man. Ibid. 4080 His breþer in þe wildrin land. Ibid. 5734, 10293. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 297 Ande euer walteres þis whal bi wyldren depe. |
B. n. = wilderness.
The genitive of this word is indistinguishable in form from next.
| c 1200 Vices & Virtues 137 Þo þe he faste fowerti daiȝes on ða wilderne. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 127 He makede his wunienge in þe wilderne. a 1225 Ancr. R. 160 He..wende into onliche stude iðe wildernesse [MS. C. wilderne]. 13.. Cursor M. 5852 (Gött.) To worschip god in wildrenes land. c 1375 Ibid. 5734 (Fairf.) His flok he fedde a-pon a tide Bi a wildernes side. a 1400 Sir Orfeo 212 (MS. Ashm. 61, lf. 153) To wylderne I wyll gone..And lyve þer in holtys hore. |