fertilis Latin · revision 6870

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=la ferō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfɛr.tɪ.lɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfɛr.ti.lis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fertilis''' (neuter fertile, comparative fertilior, superlative fertilissimus); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[ferō]] “to bear” with the suffix [[-ilis]], the ⟨t⟩ probably by analogy with other deverbal adjectives in ⟨-ilis⟩ built on participle stems.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The TLL compares the Paelignian ablative or adverb ⟨fertlid⟩.^(TLL) Etymonline traces ⟨ferō⟩ to [[ine-pro|*bʰer-|t=to carry, bear]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and the OLD's earliest citations for fertile land are from Cicero too.^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant fruitful, productive, fertile, of land and the sea, as Cicero's observation that a field, however fertile, bears nothing without cultivation.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Virgil uses it of prolific trees, Propertius of an abundant year, and Pliny of being rich in non-organic products and of what is profitable.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Ovid uses it of fertile invention and of what is produced in abundance, and Tibullus of what is life-giving.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein explains that ''fēcundus'' is the fruitfulness of a breeding creature, while ''fertilis'' and ''ferāx'' are that of land and plants.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant fertile, fruitful, prolific.^(Stelten 1995) [[en|fertile]] came in the mid-15th century, from Old French and directly from Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of fertile land.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of prolific trees.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of fertile invention.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-15th century – English ''fertile'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of land, fruitful, productive, [[m|en|fertile]]; of plants, [[m|en|prolific]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Rich in, abounding in.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Profitable, lucrative.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Inventive, imaginative.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Life-giving, fertilizing.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Produced in abundance, lush.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fertilitās]]

+ * [[īnfertilis]]

+ * [[praefertilis]]

+ * [[fertiliter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ferō]]

+ * [[ferāx]]

+ * [[fēcundus]]

+ * [[en|fertile]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}