[1705–15; soni- + -ferous]This word is first recorded in the period 1705–15. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: focal point, salon, shellac, tie-up, unconscious-ferous is a combining form meaning “bearing,” “producing,” “yielding,” “containing,” “conveying,”used in the formation of compound words. Other words that use the affix -ferous include: coniferous, pestiferous