wilderness
UK: ˈwɪldənəs | US: ˈwɪldərnəs
n. an uncultivated, uninhabited, or inhospitable region
n. a state of disorder or neglect
n. (figurative) a bewildering or overwhelming situation
The word "wilderness" originates from Old English wildēornes, combining "wild" (meaning untamed or undomesticated) with the suffix "-erness" (denoting a state or quality). The "-er" in Middle English served as a comparative or intensive suffix, amplifying the sense of "wild." Over time, the term evolved to describe not just untamed land but also metaphorical states of chaos or desolation. The logic reflects a progression from literal natural expanses to abstract concepts of disorder.
The hikers got lost in the vast wilderness of Alaska.
After years of neglect, the garden became a wilderness of weeds.
She felt overwhelmed by the wilderness of paperwork on her desk.
Conservation efforts aim to protect the wilderness from human encroachment.
His mind was a wilderness of conflicting emotions.