forest
UK[ˈfɒrɪst]US[ˈfɔːrɪst]
n
A large area of land covered with trees and undergrowth.
Etymology
The word 'forest' entered English in the late 13th century from Old French forest (also forès), meaning "forest, wood, woodland". The Old French term likely derived from Medieval Latin forestis (silva), meaning "(the) outside wood", a term used in Late Latin to denote a royal hunting ground that was legally "outside" the common law. This, in turn, came from Latin foris, meaning "outside". The semantic journey thus moved from the general concept of "outside" to a specific legal designation for an enclosed woodland reserved for nobility, and finally generalized again to its modern meaning of any extensive wooded area.
Analysis
The word 'forest' is a simplex word borrowed from Old French. It does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
The ancient forest was home to many rare species of birds.
They went for a long hike through the dense forest.
National policies aim to protect the remaining rainforest from deforestation.