sylvan

or sil·van

[ sil-vuhn ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or inhabiting the woods.
2. consisting of or abounding in woods or trees; wooded; woody:

   a shady, sylvan glade.

3. made of trees, branches, boughs, etc.

noun

1. a person dwelling in a woodland region.
2. a mythical deity or spirit of the woods.

sylvan

/ ˈsɪlvən /

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or consisting of woods or forests
2. living or located in woods or forests
3. idyllically rural or rustic

noun

1. an inhabitant of the woods, esp a spirit

Word History and Origins

Origin of sylvan¹

1555–65; < Latin sylvānus, spelling variant of silvānus, equivalent to silv ( a ) forest + -ānus -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of sylvan¹

C16: from Latin silvānus, from silva forest

Example Sentences

Arlington enjoys a reputation as a lush, sylvan suburb — annually noted for its parks in one prominent national survey while also the home of tree-lined landmarks and neighborhoods.

From Washington Post

Sylvan scenes, with a dash of human savagery in the foreground, form the best relief for a too-extended assimilation of books.

From Project Gutenberg

Thatcher has filled me amply with expensive urban food in this sylvan retreat—nectar and ambrosia.

From Project Gutenberg

Michael turned out of the noisy main road into the sylvan urbanity of Holland Walk.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly you jut round an enormous rock, and find yourself in a river of still more sylvan gentleness than the Avon.

From Project Gutenberg

Dearer than all these to me,” he says about our other valleys, “is sylvan Tweed.

From Project Gutenberg