primarily "a solitude, an uninhabited place," in contrast to a town or village, is translated "deserts" in Heb 11:38; "the wilderness" in Mat 15:33, AV, "a desert place," RV; so in Mar 8:4; "wilderness" in 2Co 11:26. It does not always denote a barren region, void of vegetation; it is often used of a place uncultivated, but fit for pasturage. See WILDERNESS.
used as a noun, has the same meaning as eremia; in Luk 5:16, Luk 8:29, RV, "deserts," for AV, "wilderness;" in Mat 24:26, Joh 6:31, RV, "wilderness," for AV, "desert." As an adjective, it denotes (a), with reference to persons, "deserted," desolate, deprived of the friends and kindred, e.g., of a woman deserted by a husband, Gal 4:27; (b) so of a city, as Jerusalem, Mat 23:38; or uninhabited places, "desert," e.g., Mat 1:14,15, Act 8:26; in Mar 1:35, RV, "desert," for AV, "solitary." See DESOLATE, WILDERNESS.
