wilderness

noun7

1. •
   Uncultivated and unsettled land in its natural state inhabited by wild animals and with vegetation growing wild; (countable) a tract of such land; a waste or wild.

   • For still he traueild through wide wastfull ground, / That nought but desert wildernesse shewed all around. — 1590
2. •
   A place other than land (for example, the air or sea) that is uncared for, and therefore devoted to disorder or wildness.

   • [W]hat / Is this blue wilderness of interminable / Air, where ye roll along, as I have seen / The leaves along the limpid streams of Eden? — 1821
3. •
   (figurative) Preceded by in the: a situation of disfavour or lack of recognition; (specifically, politics) of a politician, political party, etc.: a situation of being out of office.
4. •
   (figurative) A place or situation that is bewildering and in which one may get lost.

   • As I walk'd through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place, where was a Denn; And I laid me down in that place to sleep: And as I slept I dreamed a Dream. — 1678
5. •
   (figurative) Chiefly followed by of: a bewildering flock or throng; a large, often jumbled, collection of things.

   • [T]he virgins thou hast rob'd of all their wishes, / blasted their blowing hopes, turn'd their songs, / their mirthful Marriage-songs to Funerals, / the Land thou hast left a wildernesse of wretches. — 1613
6. •
   An ornamental part of a garden or park cultivated with trees and often a maze to evoke a natural wilderness.

   • And now with nerves new-brac'd and spirits chear'd / We tread the wilderness, whose well-roll'd walks / With curvature of slow and easy sweep, / Deception innocent—give ample space / To narrow bounds. — 1785
7. •
   (no longer used) Unrefinedness; wildness.

   • What should I thinke, / Heauen shield my Mother plaid my Father faire: / For such a warped slip of wildernesse / Nere issu'd from his blood. — 1603

noun1

1. •
   A forested region of central Virginia.