barren
UK: ˈbærən | US: ˈbærən
adj. unable to produce plants or fruit; infertile
adj. lacking in interest, variety, or creativity
adj. (of a woman or female animal) unable to bear children
The word "barren" originates from Old French "barhaine," meaning "unproductive" or "sterile." The root "bar" is linked to the idea of "bareness" or emptiness, emphasizing a lack of growth or fertility. The suffix "-ren" is a vestigial element that no longer carries independent meaning but reinforces the word’s historical form. Over time, "barren" expanded from describing literal infertility (e.g., land, animals) to metaphorical emptiness (e.g., ideas, landscapes).
The barren desert stretched for miles without a single plant.
After years of overuse, the soil became barren and useless for farming.
Her barren imagination struggled to come up with new ideas.
The doctor confirmed she was barren and unable to conceive.
The artist’s barren period lasted nearly a decade before his creative revival.