unfruitfuladj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈfruːtf(ᵿ)l/, U.S. /ˌənˈfrutfəl/ 1. Not producing offspring; barren.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > infertility > [adjective]
yelda1100
barrenc1200
geldc1225
untudderya1325
unfruitinga1400
infecundc1420
unfruitfula1425
fruitlessa1513
infertile1598
abortive1601
sterile1612
effete1621
deaf1633
improlifical1646
subventaneous1652
improlifica1661
unprolific1672
unfructifying1827
subfertile1846
agenesic1864
eggless1904
shy1905
radiosterilized1960
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Exod. xxiii. 26 Neithir a womman vnfruytful, neither bareyn, schal be in thi lond.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Judges xiii. 2 His wife was vnfrutefull & bare him no children.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iv. f. 169 The vnfruitefull.., and the otherwyse faulty, ought cheefely to be fatted.
1650 J. Bulwer Anthropometamorphosis 233 They cur'd themselves, but became unfruitful and impotent.
1735 G. Berkeley Querist §208 So many unhappy and unfruitful marriages.
2. figurative. Not productive of good results; unprofitable, unremunerative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > [adjective] > useless or unproductive
fruitless1340
unfructuousc1380
unfruitous1382
unfruitfula1400
barren1549
blanka1556
effectless1594
issueless1611
infructuous1615
sterile1642
thorny ground1657
unproductivea1676
infructuose1727
resultless1832
irresultive1850
unresultive1850
unprocreant1851
a1400 New Test. (Paues) Eph. v. 11 Þe vnfruytful werkes of darkenesse.
c1430 Life St. Kath. (1884) 47 What euer we do to oure goddes me thinkeþ hit is bot veyn and vnfruytfull.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. BBiii The communycacion was nat onely vnfrutefull, but also moch euill.
1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. Ephes. v. f. xiv To doe fruictefull honeste offices of godlines..and from henceforth be ashamed to haue a doe with the vnfruictefull workes of darkenesse.
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. D1 But in the midst of his vnfruitfull prayer,..Euen there he starts. View more context for this quotation
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 29 Conditions dishonourable and vnfruitfull.
a1718 T. Parnell Donne's 3rd Sat. 4 To laugh or weep at sins might idly show Unheedful passion, or unfruitful woe.
1780 Mirror No. 72 The cold unfruitful virtues of monkish solitude.
1821 W. Scott Pirate I. x. 234 It was a time of idle and unfruitful laughter.
1869 J. Martineau Ess. Philos. & Theol. 2nd Ser. 250 This hint has not been permitted to remain unfruitful.
3. Of trees: Not bearing fruit. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > productiveness > unproductiveness > [adjective]
unbearingc825
deafc897
westyOE
wastumlessc975
wilderna1050
drya1340
gelda1350
barren1377
unfructuousa1382
poora1387
ungreenc1400
infecundc1420
farrow1494
fruitlessa1513
unfruitful1531
sterile1552
hungry1577
penurious1594
unfertile1596
infertile1598
howling1611
ungenitureda1616
arid1656
infecundous1661
ungendering1706
yeld1721
unproductive1725
infructuose1727
ungenerative1733
fallow1791
nihili-parturient1812
dowf1824
wastec1825
non-productive1830
unreproductive1836
infructuous1860
unvintaged1869
increative1877
ablastemic1881
submarginal1895
1531 W. Tyndale Expos. 1 John (1537) 94 He yt is cut from ye vynestocke..can not but abyde vnfruteful.
1830 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. 392 The substratum ought to be dry,..otherwise trees planted will be liable to become..unhealthy and unfruitful.
4. Of ground or seasons: Not yielding fruit or crops; unfertile, unproductive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > earth or soil > soil qualities > [adjective] > infertile
unbearingc825
geasonOE
unkindc1330
barren1377
unfructuousa1382
poora1387
leanc1420
exile?1440
salt1535
unfruitful?1542
sterile1572
dead1577
unlusty1580
queasy1593
heartless1594
unfertile1596
emacerated1610
sapless1655
unprolific1672
uncivil1676
ungrateful1681
worn1681
teemless1687
unproductive1725
poorish1767
ill-conditioned1796
scanty1797
rammelly1808
starve-acre1891
?1542 H. Brinkelow Complaynt Roderyck Mors iv. sig. B6 Moory ground, as is vnfruteful for corne or pasture.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iii. xxi. 110 Manye desartes, sandye, wythered, vnfruitefull.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 1 A hill not vnfruitfull in Oliues.
1653 W. Ramesey Astrologia Restaurata 228 The year shall be unseasonable,..unfruitful or scarce.
1653 W. Ramesey Astrologia Restaurata 284.
1712 R. Blackmore Creation ii. 63 Should but the Sun his Duty once forget..Unfruitful Earth her wretched Fate would mourn.
1782 W. F. Martyn Geogr. Mag. 1 i. iii. 201 Mountains and rocks, interspersed with unfruitful plains.
1820 W. Wordsworth River Duddon v Unfruitful solitudes, that seem to upbraid The sun in heaven.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1400