feral
/ˈferəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈferəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfir-əl ˈfer-; ˈfe-rəl/ (ame, mw)
feral — adjective
- feralpositive
- more feralcomparative
- most feralsuperlative
1. describes a creature whose ancestors were once cared for or kept by people, but
describes a creature whose ancestors were once cared for or kept by people, but that now lives completely on its own outdoors — for instance, a kitten born in a forest whose parents were once someone's pets.
Hana's grandmother keeps a bowl of water on the porch for the feral cats in the alley.
feral + animal noun for formerly domesticated species
Volunteers in Chiang Mai trap feral dogs and take them to the clinic for vaccination.
feral + specific location adds concrete context
A colony of feral rabbits has dug burrows under the railway tracks near Sven's farm.
After five generations born in the woods, the pigs were completely feral and avoided humans.
The park service paid hunters to shoot feral goats that were destroying native plants.
- wild
broader term — covers any animal not living with humans, regardless of history
- undomesticated
more technical; describes a species that has never been tamed by people
用法筆記
Most commonly placed before nouns that name mammal species people keep as pets or livestock — cats, dogs, goats, pigs, horses, pigeons. The animal or its recent ancestors were once tame or lived alongside humans before returning to a wild state.
常見錯誤
2. behaving, looking, or sounding in a frighteningly wild and uncontrolled way that
behaving, looking, or sounding in a frighteningly wild and uncontrolled way that makes you think of a dangerous animal rather than a reasonable person.
The child's feral behaviour — biting, kicking, and screaming — worried the kindergarten teachers.
feral + behaviour for human conduct
When the guards cut off the water supply, a feral rage spread through the prison block.
feral + rage / anger for intense emotion
Omar's feral grin during the argument made his colleagues slowly back away from the table.
Eyewitnesses described the attack as feral, with the suspect biting and clawing wildly.
Chandra had a feral look in her eyes that made the night nurse call for security.
用法筆記
Describes observable behaviour, sounds, or appearance that feel animal-like in their ferocity. Frequently modifies nouns such as scream, grin, look, rage, behaviour, attack. Not used for internal feelings — someone cannot feel feral inside, but they can let out a feral shout.