fructify

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to bear fruit or become fruitful

   Warm weather helped the vines fructify before the first autumn frost.

2. 2
   verb

   to make something productive or fruitful, or to produce useful results

   Open debate can fructify an initially vague idea into a workable theory.

From Middle French fructifier, from Latin fructificare ("to bear fruit"), built from fructus ("fruit, enjoyment, result") + facere ("to make"). Figurative use extends fruit-bearing to intellectual or practical productivity.

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