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philoprogenitive

[fil-oh-proh-jen-i-tiv]
adjective
  1. producing offspring, especially abundantly; prolific.
  2. of, relating to, or characterized by love for offspring, especially one's own.
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Origin of philoprogenitive

First recorded in 1860–65; philo- + progenitive
Related formsphil·o·pro·gen·i·tive·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for philoprogenitiveness

Historical Examples

  • Anybody'd think we were High Priests of—of Philoprogenitiveness!

    Herland

    Charlotte Perkins Stetson Gilman

  • Mrs. Stowe has their philoprogenitiveness—as phrenologists call it—as fully developed as the whites.

    The Brothers' War

    John Calvin Reed

  • It is far otherwise, and many of these gentry have the organ of philoprogenitiveness strongly developed.

    Hints to Husbands

    George Morant

  • Philoprogenitiveness is an important organ for an officer of colored troops; and I happen to be well provided with it.

  • I don't think Terry had what the phrenologists call "the lump of philoprogenitiveness" at all well developed.

    Herland

    Charlotte Perkins Stetson Gilman

British Dictionary definitions for philoprogenitiveness

philoprogenitive

adjective rare
  1. fond of children
  2. producing many offspring
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for philoprogenitiveness

philoprogenitive

adj.

"prolific," 1815, irregularly formed from philo- + Latin progenit-, past participle stem of progignere (see progeny). Related: Philoprogenitiveness. Important words among the phrenologists.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper