Part 369

-- Fruc"tu*ous*ly, adv. -- Fruc"tu*ous*ness, n. [Obs.]

Fruc"ture (?), n. [L. frui, p. p. fructus, to enjoy. See Fruit, n.] Use; fruition; enjoyment. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

Frue" van"ner (?). [Etymol. uncertain.] (Mining) A moving, inclined, endless apron on which ore is concentrated by a current of water; a kind of buddle.

Fru"gal (?), a. [L. frugalis, fr. frugi, lit., for fruit; hence, fit for food, useful, proper, temperate, the dative of frux, frugis, fruit, akin to E. fruit: cf. F. frugal. See Fruit, n.] 1. Economical in the use or appropriation of resources; not wasteful or lavish; wise in the expenditure or application of force, materials, time, etc.; characterized by frugality; sparing; economical; saving; as, a frugal housekeeper; frugal of time.

I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit Such disproportions.

Milton.

2. Obtained by, or appropriate to, economy; as, a frugal fortune. "Frugal fare." Dryden.

Fru*gal"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Frugalities (#). [L. frugalitas: cf. F. frugalitÈ.] 1. The quality of being frugal; prudent economy; that careful management of anything valuable which expends nothing unnecessarily, and applies what is used to a profitable purpose; thrift; --- opposed to extravagance.

Frugality is founded on the principle that all riches have limits.

Burke.

2. A sparing use; sparingness; as, frugality of praise.

Syn. -- Economy; parsimony. See Economy.

Fru"gal*ly (?), adv. Thriftily; prudently.

Fru"gal*ness, n. Quality of being frugal; frugality.

Fru*gif"er*ous (?), a. [L. frugifer; frux, frugis, fruit + ferre to bear: cf. F. frugifere.] Producing fruit; fruitful; fructiferous. Dr. H. More.

||Fru*giv"o*ra (?), n. pl. [NL. See Frugivorous.] (Zoˆl.) The fruit ||bate; a group of the Cheiroptera, comprising the bats which live on ||fruits. See Eruit bat, under Fruit.

Fru*giv"o*rous (?), a. [L. frux, frugis, fruit + vorare to devour.: cf. F. frugivore.] Feeding on fruit, as birds and other animals. Pennant.

Fruit (?), n. [OE. fruit, frut, F. fruit, from L. fructus enjoyment, product, fruit, from frui, p. p. fructus, to enjoy; akin to E. brook, v. t. See Brook, v. t., and cf. Fructify, Frugal.] 1. Whatever is produced for the nourishment or enjoyment of man or animals by the processes of vegetable growth, as corn, grass, cotton, flax, etc.; -- commonly used in the plural.

Six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof.

Ex. xxiii. 10.

2. (Hort.) The pulpy, edible seed vessels of certain plants, especially those grown on branches above ground, as apples, oranges, grapes, melons, berries, etc. See 3.

3. (Bot.) The ripened ovary of a flowering plant, with its contents and whatever parts are consolidated with it.

Fruits are classified as fleshy, drupaceous, and dry. Fleshy fruits include berries, gourds, and melons, orangelike fruits and pomes; drupaceous fruits are stony within and fleshy without, as peaches, plums, and cherries; and dry fruits are further divided into achenes, follicles, legumes, capsules, nuts, and several other kinds. [1913 Webster]

4. (Bot.) The spore cases or conceptacles of flowerless plants, as of ferns, mosses, algae, etc., with the spores contained in them.

6. The produce of animals; offspring; young; as, the fruit of the womb, of the loins, of the body.

King Edward's fruit, true heir to the English crown.

Shak.

6. That which is produced; the effect or consequence of any action; advantageous or desirable product or result; disadvantageous or evil consequence or effect; as, the fruits of labor, of self-denial, of intemperance.