a. Also 5 fructuowse, 6 fructuus, -eous. [a. OF. fructuous (mod.F. fructueux), ad. L. frūctuōs-us, f. frūctus FRUIT: see -OUS.]

1

  1.  Full of, abounding with, or producing fruit.

2

1382.  Wyclif, Jer. xi. 16. An olyue plenteous, fair, fructuous.

3

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), v. 42. That Lond … is drye and nothing fructuous.

4

1413.  Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. ii. 58. That graf was taken fro a free appel tree and a fructuous.

5

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, I. viii. 68. Ane … fructuus grund, plenteous of victall.

6

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 106. Thair follouit ȝeiris thre So fructuous with sic fertilitie.

7

1614.  T. Adams, Diuells Banket, 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.

8

1627–77.  Feltham, Resolves, I. xix. 33. As fruits … trans-earth’d … haue vigour enough in themselves to be fructuous according to their nature.

9

1853.  G. Johnston, Nat. Hist. E. Bord., I. 106. It leads us on to alternating banks and holms,—to woods and fructuous plains.

10

1855.  Browning, Old Pict. Florence, xxxiv. Contrast the fructuous and sterile eras.

11

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?

12

  † b.  Promoting fertility. rare.

13

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.

14

1708.  J. Philips, Cyder, I. 35.

                    So rich the Soil,
So much does fructuous Moisture o’er-abound!

15

  2.  fig. Productive of ‘fruits’ or results; advantageous, beneficial, profitable.

16

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pars. Prol., 73. Telleth quod he youre meditacioun … Beth fructuous and that in litel space.

17

c. 1410.  Love, Bonavent. Mirr., xl. 88 (Gibbs MS.). After þat worthy sopere was done: and þat noble and fructuouse sermon endet.

18

1528.  Roy, Rede me (Arb.), 115.

        Goddis worde grownd of all vertue and grace
The fructeous fode of oure faythfull trust,
Thou hast condempned in most carfull cace
Throwe furious foly falce and vniust.

19

1879.  A. W. Ward, Chaucer, ii. 123. The even more improbable, but … infinitely more fructuous tale of patient Griseldis.

20

1884.  Law Times, 14 June, 119/1. The execution must be fructuous if poundage is to be payable.

21

  Hence Fructuously adv., Fructuousness.

22

1382.  Wyclif, Ecclus. viii. 10. Of hem [wise prestis] forsothe thou shalt lerne wisdam … and fructuousli vse grete men withoute pleynt.

23

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., lii. 233 (Harl. MS.). Who so euer prechithe fructuovslye the worde of god.

24

1530.  A Proper Dyaloge (Arb.), 150. Old writinges … do include The pithe of a matter most fructuously.

25

1855.  Ogilvie, Suppl., Fructuously. Fruitfully; fertilely. Fructuousness. Fruitfulness; fertility.

26