a. Now rare. [f. L. ūber rich, full, fruitful, abundant, etc. + -OUS, or ad. med.L. ūberōsus. Cf. mod.F. ubéreux.
Bailey (1727, vol. II.) gives uberose, and (1721), uberosity.]
1. Supplying milk or nourishment in abundance. Said (a) of animals, etc., or (b) of the breasts.
In this sense prob. associated with L. ūber udder.
(a) 1624. Quarles, Sion’s Elegies, IV. vii. Milke, from the vberous Cow, Was ne’re so pure in substance. Ibid. (1632), Div. Fancies, I. xxxvii. How do our Pastures flourish, and refresh Our uberous Kine, so fair, so full of flesh!
a. 1635. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 51. My Lord … drew in too fast, like a childe sucking on an over-uberous Nurse.
1644. Quarles, Sheph. Orac., i. Our uberous ewes were evermore supplyed With twins, attending upon either side.
(b) 1618. Dekker, Owles Almanacke, 14. Their tender lambes were neuer taken from their uberous sides.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 17. The women giue their Infants sucke as they hang at their backes, the vberous dugge stretched ouer her shoulder.
1635. Quarles, Embl., I. xii. 2. The ub’rous breasts, when fairly drawn, repast The thriving infant with their milkie flood.
1869. Browning, Ring & Bk., IX. 53. Each feminine delight of florid lip,… Marmoreal neck and bosom uberous.
b. Rich in fertilizing moisture. rare–1.
a. 1706. Evelyn, Sylva, II. viii. (1776), 426. This [water from ponds] approaches nearest to that of rain dropping from the uberous cloud, and is certainly the most natural and nursing.
† 2. Of places: Richly productive; fertile. Obs.
a. 1626. Middleton, Mayor of Queenborough, II. iii. About the fruitful flanks of uberous Kent.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 20. Cotton they [the Malagasy] haue store of, but most vberous in Fruits.
1651. Howell, Venice, 26. She [Padua] is situated in a most delightfull and uberous plain.
3. Abundant, copious, full.
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Peter iii. 18. If the young and tender grace of thankfulness do not fall into the hands of uberous and fruitful obedience, it will languish and pine away.
1747. Gentl. Mag., 242. Her uberous store, To these, parturient Earth unmidwif’d yields.
1839. New Monthly Mag., LVII. 403. Addressing himself to a lady of most uberous presence.
Hence Uberousness, plentifulness, fertileness.
1727. Bailey (vol. II.).
