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wilder

1
[ wil-der ]
/ ˈwɪl dər /
Archaic.
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verb (used with object)

to cause to lose one's way.
to bewilder.

verb (used without object)

to lose one's way.
to be bewildered.

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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
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Origin of wilder

1
First recorded in 1605–15; perhaps extracted from wilderness; intransitive use probably by association with wander

OTHER WORDS FROM wilder

wil·der·ment, noun

Words nearby wilder

wild dog, Wilde, Wildean, wildebeest, Wilde, Oscar, wilder, wilderness, wilderness area, Wilderness Road, Wilder, Thornton, wild-eyed

Definition for wilder (2 of 3)

wilder2
[ wahyl-der ]
/ ˈwaɪl dər /

adjective

comparative of wild.

Definition for wilder (3 of 3)

Wilder
[ wahyl-der ]
/ ˈwaɪl dər /

noun

Billy Samuel Wilder, 1906–2002, U.S. film director, producer, and writer; born in Austria.
Laura In·galls [ing-guhlz], /ˈɪŋ gəlz/, 1867–1957, U.S. writer of children's books.
Thorn·ton (Niv·en) [thawrn-tn -niv-uhn], /ˈθɔrn tn ˈnɪv ən/, 1897–1975, U.S. novelist and playwright.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to wilder

savage, primitive, natural, lush, free, barbarian, waste, desert, overrun, native, crazy, irrational, nuts, rash, madcap, eager, rough, raving, berserk, profligate

Example sentences from the Web for wilder

British Dictionary definitions for wilder (1 of 2)

wilder
/ (ˈwɪldə) /

verb archaic

to lead or be led astray
to bewilder or become bewildered

Derived forms of wilder

wilderment, noun

Word Origin for wilder

C17: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for wilder (2 of 2)

Wilder
/ (ˈwaɪldə) /

noun

Billy, real name Samuel Wilder. 1906–2002, US film director and screenwriter, born in Austria. His films include Double Indemnity (1944), The Lost Weekend (1945), Sunset Boulevard (1950), The Seven Year Itch (1955), Some Like it Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960), and Buddy Buddy (1981)
Thornton. 1897–1975 US novelist and dramatist. His works include the novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1927) and the play The Skin of Our Teeth (1942)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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