ferae naturae

American  

[fee-ree nuh-toor-ee, -tyoor-ee] / ˈfi ri nəˈtʊər i, -ˈtjʊər i /

adjective

Law.

1. (of animals) wild or undomesticated (distinguished from domitae naturae).

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Etymology

Origin of ferae naturae

1655–65; < Latin: literally, of a wild nature

Example Sentences

For animals upon which the law sets no value, as a dog or cat, and animals ferae naturae, as a bear or wolf, cannot be considered as estrays.

From Commentaries on the Laws of England Book the First by Blackstone, William, Sir

At one end of it, the northern, a patch of the turf was gone—removed by some boy or other creature ferae naturae.

From Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by James, M. R. (Montague Rhodes)

We have adopted the Roman law as to animals ferae naturae, but the general tendency of our law is to favor appropriation.

From The Common Law by Holmes, Oliver Wendell

He didn’t mind any amount of chaff, and devoted himself to the pursuit of ferae naturae with a perseverance which was literally as laid down by the copy-books—its own reward.

From The Fire Trumpet A Romance of the Cape Frontier by Mitford, Bertram

The most destructive of the ferae naturae, as regards human life, are, however, the snakes.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 7 "Arundel, Thomas" to "Athens" by Various