Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for prolific on Thesaurus.com producing offspring, young, fruit, etc., abundantly; highly fruitful: a prolific pear tree. producing in large quantities or with great frequency; highly productive: a prolific writer. profusely productive or fruitful (often followed by in or of ): a bequest prolific of litigations. characterized by abundant production: a prolific year for tomatoes. Show More
Origin of prolific First recorded in
1640–50, prolific is from the
Medieval Latin word
prōlificus fertile. See
prolicide ,
-fic Related forms pro·lif·i·ca·cy [pruh -lif -i-kuh -see] /prəˈlɪf ɪ kə si/ pro·li·fic·i·ty [proh-luh -fis -i-tee] /ˌproʊ ləˈfɪs ɪ ti/ pro·lif·ic·ness , noun pro·lif·i·cal·ly , adverb non·pro·lif·ic , adjective non·pro·lif·ic·ness , noun non·pro·lif·i·ca·cy , noun non·pro·lif·i·cal·ly , adverb o·ver·pro·lif·ic , adjective o·ver·pro·lif·ic·ness , noun o·ver·pro·lif·i·cal·ly , adverb un·pro·lif·ic , adjective un·pro·lif·ic·ness , noun un·pro·lif·i·cal·ly , adverb Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for prolificacy abundance ,
potency ,
productivity ,
puberty ,
richness ,
productiveness ,
fecundity ,
gravidity ,
virility ,
fruitfulness ,
pregnancy ,
copiousness ,
luxuriance ,
pubescence ,
prolificness ,
prolificity Examples from the Web for prolificacy Historical Examples of prolificacy The advantages of prolificacy are so apparent that it is unnecessary to dilate upon them.
These are not so much specialised structure as courage, a good constitution, mental capacity and prolificacy .
British Dictionary definitions for prolificacy producing fruit, offspring, etc, in abundance producing constant or successful results (often foll by in or of ) rich or fruitful Show More
Derived Forms prolifically , adverb prolificness or prolificacy , noun Word Origin for prolific C17: from Medieval Latin prōlificus, from Latin prōlēs offspring
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for prolificacy adj. 1640s, from French prolifique (16c.), from Medieval Latin prolificus , from Latin proles "offspring" + root of facere "to make" (see factitious ). Latin proles is contracted from *pro-oles , from PIE *pro-al- , from *pro- "forth" (see pro- ) + *al- "to grow, nourish" (see old ). Related: Prolifical (c.1600).
Prolific is in common use, but to make a satisfactory noun from it has passed the wit of man. [Fowler] Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
