a. and sb. 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. sb. = 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. Ibid. (c. 1375), 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.
