feral

adjective

- existing in a wild or untamed state, especially after escaping domestication or cultivation

- having reverted to a wild state, as from domestication; characteristic of wild animals

- savage, fierce, or uncontrolled in behavior

Oxford Languages, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

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WORD ORIGIN

The word “feral” has a wild history, rooted in the Latin ferus meaning “wild” or “untamed".

- 1600s: entered English as feral to describe animals (or plants) that were once domesticated but have reverted to a wild state.

- 1800s: began to be used figuratively to describe human behaviour that is unrestrained, savage, or uncontrolled.

- Related to Latin fera (“wild beast”), seen in words like “fierce“, "ferocity,” and “ferocious”.

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WILD SPIRITS

Walking through a city park or a street at night, we might catch a glimpse of something feral—a stray cat darting through bushes, or even the angry shouting of two strangers. Such moments remind us of the thin line between order and wildness.

The awareness of the feral in our surroundings—and especially within ourselves—is pretty important. In conversations with others it allows us to pause and think,... and to have the gift of freedom, to either remain silent, or to choose our next words carefully. 

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS


beast-like, brutal, FERAL, ferocious, fierce, savage, uncontrolled, undomesticated, untamed, wild

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation today, say something like:

"I guess that everyone has experienced the raw energy of FERAL moments,... in others and ourselves."

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THANKS to Ina for suggesting today's OWAD.

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P L E A S E   S U P P O R T   O W A D

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Paul, Helga, & Jenny Smith

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