Langimage
English

barrenness

|bar/ren/ness|

C1

/ˈbærənnəs/

(barren)

unproductive state

Base FormNoun
barrenbarrenness
Etymology
Etymology Information

'barren' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'barain', where 'bar-' meant 'bare' or 'empty'.

Historical Evolution

'barain' transformed into the Middle English word 'barain', and eventually became the modern English word 'barren'.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'bare or empty', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'unproductive or infertile'.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

the state or condition of being unproductive or infertile.

The barrenness of the desert made it difficult for any plants to grow.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:39