unˈfruitful, a.
[un-1 7. In early use after L. infructuosus, infecundus.]
1. Not producing offspring; barren.
| 1388 Wyclif Exod. xxiii. 26 Neithir a womman vnfruytful, neither bareyn, schal be in thi lond. 1535 Coverdale Judg. xiii. 2 His wife was vnfrutefull & bare him no children. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iv. (1586) 169 The vnfruitfull.., and the otherwise faultie, ought cheefely to be fatted. 1650 Bulwer Anthropomet. 233 They cur'd themselves, but became unfruitful and impotent. 1735 Berkeley Querist §208 So many unhappy and unfruitful marriages. |
2. fig. Not productive of good results; unprofitable, unremunerative.
| a 1400 New Test. (Paues) Eph. v. 11 Þe vnfruytful werkes of darkenesse. c 1430 Life St. Kath. (1884) 47 What euer we do to oure goddes me thinkeþ hit is bot veyn and vnfruytfull. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 76 b, The communycacyon was not onely vnfruytfull, but also moche euyll. 1593 Shakes. Lucr. 344 But in the midst of his unfruitful prayer,..Even there he starts. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 29 Conditions dishonourable and vnfruitfull. a 1718 Parnell Donne's 3rd Sat. Versified 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 Scott Pirate x, It was a time of idle and unfruitful laughter. 1869 J. Martineau Ess. II. 250 This hint has not been permitted to remain unfruitful. |
| absol. 1781 Cowper Truth 500 She may..leave to mercy..The worthless and unfruitful of mankind. |
3. Of trees: Not bearing fruit. Also
fig.| 1531 Tindale Exp. 1 John (1537) 94 He y{supt} is cut from y⊇ vynestocke..can not but abyde vnfruteful. 1846 J. Baxter Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4) II. 177 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.
| 1545 Brinklow Compl. 14 Moory ground, as is vnfruteful for corne or pasture. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iii. xxi. 110 Manye desartes, sandye, wythered, vnfruitefull. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 1 A hill not vnfruitfull in Oliues. 1653 W. Ramesey Astrol. Restored 228 The year shall be unseasonable,..unfruitful or scarce. Ibid. 284. 1712 Blackmore Creation ii. 197 Should but the sun his duty once forget,..Unfruitful earth her wretched fate would mourn. 1782 Martyn Geog. Mag. i. iii. I. 201 Mountains and rocks, interspersed with unfruitful plains. 1820 Wordsw. River Duddon v, Unfruitful solitudes, that seem to upbraid The sun in heaven. |
| fig. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia ii. xxix, She..besought him, not to cast his love in so unfruitfull a place. |