selva
[sel-vuh]
- a tropical rain forest, as that in the Amazon basin of South America.
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Origin of selva
1840–50; < Brazilian Portuguese; Portuguese: forest < Latin silva
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for selvas
Historical Examples
At last the Selvas came to the Purús River, and down this it steamed.
Lost in the Wilds of BrazilJames H. Foster
The Selvas spent the winter in Rome, the rest of the year at Subiaco.
The SaintAntonio Fogazzaro
I wished to speak to you when we were on our way to the Selvas', but you were in haste to be there, and so it was not possible.
The SaintAntonio Fogazzaro
She and Signorina d'Arxel, wishing to surprise the Selvas, had forbidden him to tell.
The SaintAntonio Fogazzaro
He said he would also send him the young girl who was with the Selvas.
The SaintAntonio Fogazzaro
selva
- dense equatorial forest, esp in the Amazon basin, characterized by tall broad-leaved evergreen trees, epiphytes, lianas, etc
- a tract of such forest
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Word Origin
C19: from Spanish and Portuguese, from Latin silva forest
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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