fructuous, a.
(ˈfrʌktjuːəs)
Also 5 fructuowse, 6 fructuus, -eous.
[a. OF. fructuous (mod.F. fructueux), ad. L. frūctuōs-us, f. frūctus fruit: see -ous.]
1. Full of, abounding with, or producing fruit.
| 1382 Wyclif Jer. xi. 16 An olyue plenteous, fair, fructuous. c 1400 Mandeville (1839) v. 42 That Lond..is drye and nothing fructuous. 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) iv. ii. 58 That graf was taken fro a free appel tree and a fructuous. 1513 Douglas æneis i. viii. 68 Ane..fructuus grund, plenteous of victall. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 106 Thair follouit ȝeiris thre So fructuous with sic fertilitie. 1614 T. Adams Devil's Banquet 310 It was as populous as fructuous; and at once blessed with pregnancie both of fruits for the people, and of people for the fruits. 1627–77 Feltham Resolves i. xix. 33 As fruits..trans-earth'd..haue vigour enough in themselves to be fructuous according to their nature. 1853 G. Johnston Nat. Hist. E. Bord. I. 106 It leads us..to woods and fructuous plains. 1855 Browning Old Pictures in Florence xxxiv, Contrast the fructuous and sterile eras. 1886 B. Roosevelt Copper Queen I. ii. 23 Did not fruit come from St. Joseph, and every other fructuous town from east, west, north, or south? |
† b. Promoting fertility. rare.
| 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 991 If water were of the oune nature fructuous, it must needs follow, that it selfe alone, and at all times, should be able to produce fruit. 1708 J. Philips Cyder i. 35 So rich the soil, So much does fructuous moisture o'erabound. |
2. fig. Productive of ‘fruits’ or results; advantageous, beneficial, profitable.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. Prol. 73 Telleth quod he youre meditacioun..Beth fructuous and that in litel space. c 1410 Love Bonavent. Mirr. xl. 88 (Gibbs MS.) After þat worthy sopere was done: and þat noble and fructuouse sermon endet. 1528 Roy Rede Me (Arb.) 115 Goddis worde..The fructeous fode of oure faythfull trust, Thou hast condempned. 1879 A. W. Ward Chaucer ii. 123 The even more improbable, but..infinitely more fructuous tale of patient Griseldis. 1884 Law Times 14 June 119/1 The execution must be fructuous if poundage is to be payable. |
Hence ˈfructuously adv., ˈfructuousness.
| 1382 Wyclif Ecclus. viii. 10 Of hem [wise prestis] forsothe thou shalt lerne wisdam..and fructuousli vse grete men withoute pleynt. c 1450 Gesta Rom. lii. 233 (Harl. MS.) Who so euer prechithe fructuovslye the worde of god. 1530 Proper Dyaloge (Arb.) 150 Old writinges..do include The pithe of a matter most fructuously. 1855 Ogilvie Suppl., Fructuously, fruitfully, fertilely. Fructuousness, fruitfulness, fertility. |