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Webster's New World College Dictionary » barrenness
barrenness
Variant of barren
barren
definition
bar·ren (bar′ən, ber′-)
adjective
- that cannot produce offspring; sterile a barren woman
- not bearing or pregnant at the regular time: said of animals or plants
- not producing crops or fruit; having little or no vegetation barren soil
- not bringing useful results; unproductive; unprofitable a barren plan
- lacking appeal, interest, or meaning; dull; boring
- empty; devoid barren of creative spirit
Etymology: ME barain < OFr baraigne, brehaigne, orig. used of land
noun
- an area of unproductive land
- land with poor soil and very few shrubs, trees, etc.
Related Forms:
- barrenly bar′·renly adverb
- barrenness bar′·ren·ness noun
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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