— barrenly , adv. — barrenness , n.
/bar"euhn/ , adj.
1. not producing or incapable of producing offspring; sterile: a barren woman.
2. unproductive; unfruitful: barren land.
3. without capacity to interest or attract: a barren period in American architecture.
4. mentally unproductive; dull; stupid.
5. not producing results; fruitless: a barren effort.
6. destitute; bereft; lacking (usually fol. by of ): barren of tender feelings.
n.
7. Usually, barrens . level or slightly rolling land, usually with a sandy soil and few trees, and relatively infertile.
[ 1200-50; ME bareyn ( e ), barayn ( e ) barai ( gn ) e, OF brahaigne (F bréhaigne (of animals) sterile), akin to Sp breña scrubby, uncultivated ground, Upper It barena land along a lagoon covered by high water; appar braenar, Ir branar fallow land, but derivational details unclear ]
Syn. 1. childless, unprolific, infertile. 2. infertile, depleted, waste. See bare 1 . 5. ineffectual, ineffective.
Ant. 1-6. fertile.