Ferryboat
(Fer"ry*boat`) n. A vessel for conveying passengers, merchandise, etc., across streams and
other narrow waters.
Ferryman
(Fer"ry*man) n.; pl. Ferrymen One who maintains or attends a ferry.
Fers
(Fers) a. Fierce. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Ferthe
(Ferthe) a. Fourth. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Fertile
(Fer"tile) 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.
Fertilely
(Fer"tile*ly) adv. In a fertile or fruitful manner.
fertileness
(fer"tile*ness), n. Fertility. Sir P. Sidney.
Fertilitate
(Fer*til"i*tate) v. t. To fertilize; to fecundate. Sir T. Browne.
Fertility
(Fer*til"i*ty) n. [L. fertilitas: cf. F. fertilité.] The state or quality of being fertile or fruitful; fruitfulness; productiveness; fecundity; richness; abundance
of resources; fertile invention; quickness; readiness; as, the fertility of soil, or of imagination. "fertility of
