Fer"tile (? or ?; 277), a. [L.
fertilis, fr. ferre to bear, produce: cf. F.
fertile. See Bear to support.]
1. Producing fruit or vegetation in abundance;
fruitful; able to produce abundantly; prolific; fecund; productive;
rich; inventive; as, fertile land or fields; a fertile
mind or imagination.
Though he in a fertile climate
dwell.
Shak.
2. (Bot.) (a) Capable
of producing fruit; fruit-bearing; as, fertile flowers.
(b) Containing pollen; -- said of
anthers.
3. produced in abundance; plenteous;
ample.
Henceforth, my early care . . .
Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease
Of thy full branches.
Milton.
Syn. -- Fertile, Fruitful. Fertile
implies the inherent power of production; fruitful, the act.
The prairies of the West are fertile by nature, and are turned
by cultivation into fruitful fields. The same distinction
prevails when these words are used figuratively. A man of
fertile genius has by nature great readiness of invention; one
whose mind is fruitful has resources of thought and a
readiness of application which enable him to think and act
effectively.
