Dictionary

befruit en · VERB

Etymology

From be- (“upon, about, all over”) + fruit.

Meanings

1. (rare, transitive) To endow, cover, or adorn with fruit (all senses); (by extension) to make fruitful.
   • A fresh young Germany must be planted here and there across the seas. We shall befruit it... with the outcome of our toils and struggles, beget and bring up noblest children, children like unto the gods. 1951, Jay H. Cerf, The Intellectual Basis of Nazism, page 115:
   • The dipper rushed to her aid and caught her, asking the slightly inebriated glass if he could "befruit" her, or deposit some sweet pieces of fruit into the glass. 2008, Sandro Del-Prete, Annemarie Koch, The Master of Illusions: Pictures to Ponder from a Visual Virtuoso:
   • This, shown by blood in an awful wattle at my groin, and numerous barberries of it befruiting my chest's long scrape — but notwithstanding at he now coursing through my sex's pretty bit, I perforce must help prop A. […] 1978, Antæus, page 91:
   • I present to Thee these new children, with whom Thou hast so quickly befruited it and also my desire that they receive holy Baptism, since they have already been instructed in the faith. 1902, María de Jesús (de Agreda, sor), Mystical City of God:

Forms

Deriveds

befruited

Synonyms

fruiten