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See the Forest and the Trees With Sylva
In Latin, sylva means "wood" or "forest," and the related Sylvanus is the name of the Roman god of the woods and fields—a god sometimes identified with the Greek god Pan. These words gave rise to English sylvan in the 16th century. The English word was first used as a noun meaning "a mythological deity of the woods," eventually taking on the broader meaning "one who frequents the woods." The adjective sylvan followed soon after the noun and is now the more common word. Some other offspring of sylva (which can also be spelled silva) include silviculture ("a branch of forestry dealing with the development and care of forests"), sylvatic (a synonym of sylvan that can also mean "occurring in or affecting wild animals"), and the first name Sylvia.
Examples of sylvan in a Sentence
Richard Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2022
So neither Danny nor I are surprised that this prequel opens on the sylvan fields of Valinor where Elven children play.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2022
Viewable by appointment between early June and mid September, and reachable only on foot, the cottage’s densely sylvan setting can be an interim destination.
—J.s. Marcus, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022
Temporary departures from the sylvan landscape for professional activities are prohibited, but the place has been known to have a hold on people.
—New York Times, 6 July 2022
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Cite this Entry
“Sylvan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sylvan. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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