Forms: 5–6 fruicion, -yon, fruycion, (5 fruycon), fruyssyon, 6 fruitioun, fruytion, 6– fruition. [a. OF. fruission, fruition, fruycion, ad. L. fruitiōnem, n. of action f. fruī to enjoy: see FRUIT sb.]
The action of enjoying; enjoyment, pleasurable possession, the pleasure arising from possession. † In the fruition of = in the possession of.
1413. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. xxviii. 75. An aungel hath that knowynge of his creatour by very fruycion.
c. 1450. Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 86. Contryssyon, Compassyon, and Clennes, And that holy mayde Fruyssyon.
1554. Latimer, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., III. App. xxxv. 98. If we live by hope let us desire the end and fruition of our hope.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 57. We had when so disposed, the fruition of our bookes.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., V. 179. Solyman entred the Toune as conquerour … It is ever since in the fruition of Turkes.
c. 1655. A. Sidney, Treat. Love, in 19th Cent., Jan. (1884), 61. It is very certaine that all desire is for fruition.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 256, ¶ 7. An Object of Desire placed out of the Possibility of Fruition.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, I. 20. Repaid by such a scant holiday and brief fruition.
1883. 19th Cent., May, 854. In the contemplation and fruition of the Uncreated Good.
¶ Erroneously associated with FRUIT.
(The blunder is somewhat common both in England and in the U.S., but is not countenanced by Dictionaries in this country, nor by Webster or Worcester.)
1885. Harper’s Mag., May, 906. The greenish nuts, ripened as always from the flowers of the previous year and now in their full fruition.
1889. Century Dict., Fruition, a coming into fruit or fulfilment.
1895. Standard Dict., Fruition, the bearing of fruit; the yielding of natural or expected results; realization, fulfilment.
