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Mysteries of vernacular: Bewilder - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel

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Mysteries of Vernacular

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The history of the word bewilder is more straightforward than you might think. Roots can be traced back to the Old English words wilde (undomesticated) and deor (untamed animals), eventually combined into the word wilderness. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel track bewilder's etymological path from meaning natural states to complete confusion.

What does the word ‘wilderness’ tell us about our understanding of nature?

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