1596. Edward III., I. ii. 151. The ground … Seemes barrayne, sere, vnfertill.
1620. Markham, Farew. Husb. (1625), 24. That barren and unfertile earth,… which is overrunne only with whinnes.
1661. J. Childrey, Brit. Baconica, 51. These unfertile beds do intersect each other.
1792. J. Gifford, ed. Resid. France (1797), I. 117. It was, in every thing, a perfect contrast to the rich plains of Artois—unfertile, neglected valleys and hills, miserable farms, still more miserable cottages, and scarcely any appearance of population.
1818. Colebrooke, Import Colonial Corn, 104. The permanent improvement of poor and unfertile land.
1865. W. G. Palgrave, Arabia, II. 244. A not unfertile strip of coast.
fig. 1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle (1871), 110. The abortive issue of my vnfertile braine.
1667. Decay Chr. Piety, xix. ¶ 12. Peace is not … such a sapless unfertile thing.
1866. Whipple, Char. & Charac. Men, 54. The thought … would not come into that unfertile brain.
b. sb. An unfertile egg.
1891. Bazaar, 20 Feb., 269/3. Purchasers should always make sure that unfertiles will be replaced before giving their orders. Ibid. I returned the unfertiles carriage paid.
Hence Unfertileness, Unfertility.
1611. Cotgr., Infecondité,… vnfertilnesse, vnfruitfulnesse.
1888. 19th Cent., June, 834. The unfertility of the soil.
1899. Mary Kingsley, W. African Stud., xi. 279. The unfertility of the greater part of their country.
