feral¹

[feer-uh l, fer-] /ˈfɪər əl, ˈfɛr-/

adjective

existing in a natural state, as animals or plants; not domesticated or cultivated; wild.

having reverted to the wild state, as from domestication:

a pack of feral dogs roaming the woods.

of or characteristic of wild animals; ferocious; brutal.

Origin

1595-1605; < Medieval Latin, Late Latin ferālis bestial, wild, equivalent to Latin fer(a) wild beast + -ālis -al¹

feral²

[feer-uh l, fer-] /ˈfɪər əl, ˈfɛr-/

adjective

causing death; fatal.

funereal; gloomy.

Origin

1615-25; < Latin fērālis of the dead, funerary, fatal

Examples from the web for feral

In time, he was able to domesticate some feral cats, who served as companions and exterminators.
Some are wild, feral cats, whereas others are family pets that were let out of their homes at night.
These feral cats are slim, with long legs and tails, and have been recognized as a distinct breed.
His profile is vaguely feral, in a way that makes him look menacing without making him ugly.
At the farmhouse the air was thick with the stench-a feral smell, of wetness and organs and things rotting in the damp.
Goat gone feral comes in where the fence is open comes in and makes hay and nips the tree seedlings.
It was a gang of feral youths, almost none out of their teens, who went on a six-month pogrom.
But the feral wildness of the disciplined combatant never comes through.
Sugar was cute, but she had a mean, feral look in her eyes.
feral thugs and killer nerds rode the subway together, looking warily at one another.

British Dictionary definitions for feral

/ˈfɪərəl; ˈfɛr-/

adjective

Also ferine. (of animals and plants) existing in a wild or uncultivated state, esp after being domestic or cultivated

Also ferine. savage; brutal

(Austral, derogatory, slang) (of a person) tending to be interested in environmental issues and having a rugged, unkempt appearance

noun

(Austral, derogatory, slang) a person who displays such tendencies and appearance

(Austral, slang) disgusting

(Austral, slang) excellent

Word Origin

C17: from Medieval Latin ferālis, from Latin fera a wild beast, from ferus savage

/ˈfɪərəl; ˈfɛr-/

adjective (archaic)

(astrology) associated with death

gloomy; funereal

Word Origin

C17: from Latin fērālis relating to corpses; perhaps related to ferre to carry

Word Origin and History for feral

adj.

c.1600, from Middle French feral "wild," from Latin fera, in phrase fera bestia "wild animal," from ferus "wild" (see fierce).

feral in Science

feral

(fîr'əl, fěr'-)
Existing in a wild or untamed state, either naturally or having returned to such a state from domestication.