Feral
/ˈfɛr.əl/noun
In a wild state, especially after escape from captivity or domestication.
Did you know?The term 'feral' is derived from Latin roots that imply a connection to wild beasts and untamed nature, linking it to ancient fears of the primal within.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰer-
“to hold, to support, or to endure (implying wildness or untamed nature)”
Latin
Latin
ferus
“wild, untamed, savage, often used to describe beasts in nature”
Old French
Old French
feral
“wild, savage, often used in the context of animals or people reverting to a natural state”
Middle English
Middle English
feral
“wild, untamed; referring to animals that have returned to a wild state after being domesticated”
Modern English
English
feral
“pertaining to wild animals or plants, especially those that revert to an untamed state after domestication.”