unˈfructuous, a.
[un-1 7 and 5 b.]
† 1. Producing no fruit; unfruitful. Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif Exod. xxiii. 26 Ne thi loond shal be vnfructuous, ne bareyn. ― Job xxiv. 20 Be he not in recording, but be to-trede as a tree vnfructuous. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483) iv. ii. 58 The trees..were bycomen wylde and vnfructuous. |
2. fig. = unfruitful a. 2. Now rare.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 29 My mouþ..þat bifore was filid þoru unfructuouse jangelingis. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 258 Ryot and dronkenesse, Unfructuous talkyng, intemperat diete. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione iii. ii. 65 Speke..þou, my lorde god, euerlastyng trouþe; lest I dye & be made unfructuouse. 1513 Douglas æneid iv. Prol. 19 Ȝour frute is bot vnfructuus fantasy. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 135 Be ȝe nocht partakers of the vnfruictuous warkis of wickitnes. 1828 Scott Jrnl. 27 Feb., We had a final and totally unfructuous meeting. 1904 R. Bridges Demeter iii. 954 Unfructuous night Stifles her essence in her truthless heart. |
Hence unˈfructuously adv.
| 1827 Scott Jrnl. 6 May, Wrought again at Hoffmann—unfructuously I fear. |