1 fructified | Definition of fructified
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

fructify

verb
fruc·​ti·​fy | \ ˈfrÉ™k-tÉ™-ËŒfÄ« How to pronounce fructify (audio) , ˈfru̇k-\
fructified; fructifying

Definition of fructify

intransitive verb

: to bear fruit its seeds shall fructify— Amy Lowell no partnership can fructify without candor on both sides— D. M. Ogilvy

transitive verb

: to make fruitful or productive

Did You Know?

Fructify derives from Middle English "fructifien" and ultimately from the Latin noun fructus, meaning "fruit." When the word was first used in English in the 14th century, it literally referred to the actions of plants that bore fruit; later it was used transitively to refer to the action of making something fruitful, such as soil. The word also expanded to encompass a figurative sense of "fruit," and it is now more frequently used to refer to the giving forth of something in profit from something else (such as dividends from an investment). "Fructus" also gave us the name of the sugar "fructose," as well as "usufruct," which refers to the legal right to enjoy the fruits or profits of something that belongs to someone else.

First Known Use of fructify

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

History and Etymology for fructify

Middle English fructifien, from Anglo-French fructefier, from Latin fructificare, from fructus fruit

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on fructify

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with fructify

Britannica English: Translation of fructify for Arabic Speakers

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!