Question: Looking on [thesaurus.com](http://thesaurus.com/browse/desert) I can find only synonyms for "desert" with negative connotations. Are there any synonyms with positive connotations? Specifically, something that invokes the sense of clean desolation and unspoiled nature.

Answer: 
The [Etymology](http://www.myetymology.com/latin/deserta.html) tells the story: 

> 
> The Classical Latin word *deserta* (abandoned, deserted wife) is 
>  derived from the Latin word *desertus* (deserted, uninhabited, without people), which is
>  derived from the Latin verb *deserere* (to cease to be concerned with; to fail, fall short; to leave, depart, quit), which is derived from negative or past *de-* plus the verb *serere* (to plant, sow). 
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Hence, a desert is unused or unusable land. *Arabia Deserta* is the classical Latin name for guess which country? And guess what it means?

There really aren't many positive connotations available for the word *desert*; perhaps that's one reason why we often spell it *dessert* and vice versa. There's rarely any confusion about which word is meant.
*Expanse*, as in *wide expanse* or *open expanse*, is fairly positive. It evokes a sense of opportunity and possibility, to me: *Riding off into the open expanse.*

> 
> [**expanse**](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/expanses) *A wide and open extent, as of surface, land, or sky.*
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