barrennessn.
/ˈbarənnəs/, U.S. /ˈbɛrə(n)nəs/ 1. Incapacity for child-bearing; sterility as regards offspring. The opposite of fertility.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > infertility > [noun]
unkinda1200
barrenhoodc1380
barrennessa1382
geldheada1400
sterility1535
sterileness1558
unfruitfulness1565
infecundity1605
deadness1611
infertility1869
subfertility1917
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. xlvii. 9 Comen shal to thee..bareynesse and widewehed.
a1400 Cov. Myst. 75 My barynes he may amend.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rom. iv. 19 Nor yet considered he..the barenes of Sara.
1618 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. IV. N.T. i. 324 Amongst the Iewes barrennesse was..a reproch.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. II. 141 Providence had not pronounced against the marriage by a sentence of barrenness.
2. Unproductiveness or sterility of the earth; hence, dearth, scarcity, famine.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > wild or uncultivated land > [noun] > barren land or desert > condition of
barrennessa1425
nakedness1750
aridity1835
baldness1840
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > hunger > [noun] > scarcity of food or famine
hungerc1000
dear1297
deartha1325
fault1340
famine1362
barrennessa1425
affaminea1450
enfaminea1450
wantc1450
scarceness1481
Lang Reeda1525
famishment1526
cleanness of teeth1560
breadlessness1860
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > earth or soil > soil qualities > [noun] > soil as source of growth > infertility
barrennessa1425
sterility1426
poorness1577
infertility1610
leanness1612
scarceness1678
unproductiveness1777
rammel1795
unproductivity1872
unfertility1888
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Gen. xxvi. 1 Hungur roos on the lond aftir thilke bareynesse.
1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxxxi. 247 For defaute of rayne ther was grete barines of corn.
1611 Bible (King James) Psalms cvii. 34 A fruitfull land into barrennesse . View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iii. ii. 123 Where Scotland? Dro. I found it by the barrennesse, hard in the palme of the hand. View more context for this quotation
1866 J. G. Murphy Crit. Comm. Exodus xvi. 4 The very barrenness of the wilderness gave way to the bountiful hand of the Lord.
3. figurative. Unproductiveness; hence, poverty of supply, lack of fullness or copiousness, bareness, scantiness, meagreness, poverty.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > insufficiency > [noun] > state of being limited in amount > scantiness or meagreness
scantnessc1386
parcity1509
tenuity1535
scantiness1567
bareness1580
barrenness1587
exiguity1604
leanness1612
meagreness1622
thinness1623
jejuneness1626
macilencya1631
narrowness1647
straitnessa1704
flimsinessa1763
threadbareness1771
poorness1782
skimpiness1879
threadbarity1892
1587 F. Thynne Ann. Scotl. Pref. 405 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) II Carping at my barrennes in writing, bicause I omit manie things.
a1617 S. Hieron Penance for Sinne in Wks. (1620) II. 337 Such a generall barrennesse in mens hearts..that they know not what to say vpon such occasions.
a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George II (1847) I. iv. 94 Great hesitation in his elocution, and a barrenness of expression.
1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xvii. 286 The barrenness of practical results.
4. Lack of intellectual capacity; mental poverty, slowness, dullness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > weakness of intellect > [noun]
frailtyc1384
doting1440
barrenness1552
dottry1576
dotishness1598
feeble-mindedness1619
unfurniture1640
ungiftedness1647
flaccidity1778
weak-mindedness1854
flabbiness1883
touchedness1883
dottiness1885
barminess1896
dodderingness1915
moronism1922
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Barrennes properlye of capacitie, segnities.
1599 F. Thynne Animaduersions (1875) 2 The barrennesse of my feble skyll.
1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 19. ⁋8 The barrenness of his fellow students forced him..into other company.
1837 W. Whewell Hist. Inductive Sci. I. iv. iv. 312 The prevalent feebleness and barrenness of intellect.
5. ‘Aridity, want of emotion or sensibility’ (Johnson).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > [noun] > want of or incapacity for emotion
dryheada1300
lethargyc1380
drynessc1450
dumping1542
unsensibility1551
insensibleness?1555
unsensibleness?1555
stupidity1568
stolidity1570
stupor1570
dumpishness1574
senselessness1577
innaturality1579
astoniedness1580
impassibility1603
stupefaction1603
torpor1607
deadness1611
unsufferance1611
hebetude1621
nonsense1621
drought1622
hebetation1623
obstupefaction1625
unanswerableness1626
tastelessnessa1631
insensateness1646
impassiveness1648
obtuseness1648
barrenness1655
torpulency1657
sterility1661
spiritlessness1669
unspiritedness1669
unaffectedness1678
insensibility1691
stolidness1727
apathy1742
impenetrableness1747
unfeelingness1766
impassivity1794
unfeeling1805
soullessness1811
incommobility1822
obtusity1823
unimpressibleness1830
hardhead1836
stockishness1837
insensitiveness1838
impenetrability1847
unreceptivity1849
unsusceptibility1850
woodenness1854
unimpressionability1862
irresponsiveness1864
unresponsiveness1869
impassibleness1874
irreceptivity1881
unimpressibility1889
apatheia1893
inemotivity1894
affectlessness1921
insensitivity1957
1655 Bp. J. Taylor Golden Grove 80 The greatest Saints have sometimes suffered the banishment of the heart; sometimes are fervent, sometimes they feel a barrenness of Devotion.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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