| 释义 |
unˈfruitful, a.
[un-1 7. In early use after L. infructuosus, infecundus.]
1. Not producing offspring; barren.
1388Wyclif Exod. xxiii. 26 Neithir a womman vnfruytful, neither bareyn, schal be in thi lond. 1535Coverdale Judg. xiii. 2 His wife was vnfrutefull & bare him no children. 1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iv. (1586) 169 The vnfruitfull.., and the otherwise faultie, ought cheefely to be fatted. 1650Bulwer Anthropomet. 233 They cur'd themselves, but became unfruitful and impotent. 1735Berkeley Querist §208 So many unhappy and unfruitful marriages.
2. fig. Not productive of good results; unprofitable, unremunerative.
a1400New Test. (Paues) Eph. v. 11 Þe vnfruytful werkes of darkenesse. c1430Life St. Kath. (1884) 47 What euer we do to oure goddes me thinkeþ hit is bot veyn and vnfruytfull. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 76 b, The communycacyon was not onely vnfruytfull, but also moche euyll. 1593Shakes. Lucr. 344 But in the midst of his unfruitful prayer,..Even there he starts. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 29 Conditions dishonourable and vnfruitfull. a1718Parnell Donne's 3rd Sat. Versified 4 To laugh or weep at sins might idly show Unheedful passion, or unfruitful woe. 1780Mirror No. 72, The cold unfruitful virtues of monkish solitude. 1821Scott Pirate x, It was a time of idle and unfruitful laughter. 1869J. Martineau Ess. II. 250 This hint has not been permitted to remain unfruitful.
absol.1781Cowper Truth 500 She may..leave to mercy..The worthless and unfruitful of mankind.
3. Of trees: Not bearing fruit. Also fig.
1531Tindale Exp. 1 John (1537) 94 He yt is cut from y⊇ vynestocke..can not but abyde vnfruteful. 1846J. 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.
1545Brinklow Compl. 14 Moory ground, as is vnfruteful for corne or pasture. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iii. xxi. 110 Manye desartes, sandye, wythered, vnfruitefull. 1615G. Sandys Trav. 1 A hill not vnfruitfull in Oliues. 1653W. 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. 1782Martyn Geog. Mag. i. iii. I. 201 Mountains and rocks, interspersed with unfruitful plains. 1820Wordsw. River Duddon v, Unfruitful solitudes, that seem to upbraid The sun in heaven.
fig.a1586Sidney Arcadia ii. xxix, She..besought him, not to cast his love in so unfruitfull a place. |