I was reading a book in an art gallery and found this word. Not wanting to look dumb, I waited and looked it up later.

sylvan \SIL-vuhn\

adjective:
1. Of or pertaining to woods or forest regions.
2. Living or located in a wood or forest.
3. Abounding in forests or trees; wooded.

noun:
1. A fabled deity or spirit of the woods.
2. One that lives in or frequents the woods or forest; a rustic.

They probably picture it as a kind of modest conservatory, set in sylvan splendour in some charmingly landscaped garden.
-- Sally Vincent, "Driven by daemons", Guardian, November 10, 2001

They choose to live where they do because of the beauty and peacefulness that a sylvan setting affords.
-- Henry Petroski, "Step Lively", Washington Post, June 30, 2002

Following the course of the brook, and especially in the ravines, are many poplars and other tall trees, which, together with the bushes and the shrubs, form a dark and labyrinthine wood. . . . It would, in truth, be difficult to imagine anything more secluded and sylvan, more solitary, peaceful, and silent than this spot.
-- Juan Valera, Pepita Jimenez

Sylvan derives from Latin silva, sylva, "a wood or grove."

For the life of me, I cant think of WHY that word would jump out at you. I could have lived my WHOLE lifetime without ever knowing, hearing or using that word.....

Someone, Sylvan pine doesnt have the Same ring to it !

The aforementioned sylvan is one and the same 'sylvan' embedded in Pennsylvania (Penn's Woods), so named by Charles II after William Penn (or his father, accounts vary).

Good Lord, people, where did you go to school?

Good Lord, people, where did you go to school?

Exactly. What I always think of is that tutoring franchise for kids who are not quite bright.

http://www.sylvanlearning.com/

Sylvan Learning tutorial:

Just what I was thinking about the jock in their ad.