Greenwood Meaning
/ˈɡɹiːnwʊd/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA forest in full leaf, as in summer.
nounWood that is green; in other words, not seasoned.
Sentence Examples
The greenwood tree was freshly cut.
Greenwood is perfect for smoking meat.
Robin hood lived with his men in the greenwood.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The outlaws lived in the ____, hiding among the trees.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The legendary outlaw Robin Hood and his band of merry men were said to live deep within the lush ____ of Sherwood.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English grene wode (“a forest that is leafed out, a greenwood" also "unseasoned firewood”), equivalent to green + wood.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Within a greenewood ſweet of mirtle ſauor, when as the earth was with fayre flowers reuested, I ſaw a ſhepherd, with his Nymph that reſted, […]"
— 1588, William Byrd; Giovanni Ferretti, composer, Musica Transalpina: Tenor. Madrigales Translated of Foure, Fiue and Sixe Partes, Chosen out of Diuers Excellent Authors, vvith the first and second part of La Verginella, Made by Maister Byrd, vpon Tvvo Stanza's of Ariosto, and Brought to Speake English vvith the Rest. Published by N. Yonge, in Fauour of such as Take Pleasure in Musicke of Voices, London: Imprinted at London [for Nicholas Yonge] by Thomas East, the assignè of William Byrd, →OCLC, number XXXIII:
"Vnder the greene wood tree, / Who loues to lye with mee, / And turne his merrie Note, / Vnto the ſweet Birds throte: / Come hither, come hither, come hither: / Heere ſhall he ſee no enemie, / But Winter and rough Weather."
— 1599, William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies, London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, act II, scene v, page 192:
"But Calipine, now being left alone / Under the greenewood’s ſide in ſorie plight, / Withouten armes or ſteede to ride upon, / Or houſe to hide his head from heaven’s ſpight, […]"
— 1751, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene. By Edmund Spenser. With an Exact Collation of the Two Original Editions, Published by Himself at London in Quarto; the Former Containing the First Three Books Printed in 1590, and the Latter the Six Books in 1596. [...], London: Printed for J. Brindley, in New Bond-Street, and S. Wright, Clerk of His Majesty's Works, at Hampton-Court, →OCLC, book VI, canto IV, stanza XXXIX, page 270:
"We who walk the greenwood do many a wild deed, and the Lady Rowena’s deliverance may be received as an atonement."
— 1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance [...] In Three Volumes, Edinburgh: Printed for Archibald Constable and Co., Edinburgh; and Hurst, Robinson, and Co., 90, Cheapside, London:
"The good green-wood! the good green-wood! / Where early violets spring, / Where 'mid the old oak's giant boughs / The merle and mavis sing, […] My dreams are of sweet music wild / Beneath the green-wood tree!"
— 1842, “The Green-wood”, in Bentley's Miscellany, volume XI, London: Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street, →OCLC, page 605:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The outlaws lived in the ____, hiding among the trees.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The legendary outlaw Robin Hood and his band of merry men were said to live deep within the lush ____ of Sherwood.