Word of the Day

: March 15, 2008

fruition

noun froo-ISH-un

What It Means

1 : pleasurable use or possession : enjoyment

2 a : the state of bearing fruit

b : realization

fruition in Context

Colton's long-held dream of owning his own home came to fruition last year when he purchased a small bungalow on a quiet side street.

Did You Know?

"Fruition" must come from the word "fruit," right? Not exactly. "Fruition" and "fruit" are related (both ultimately come from the Latin verb "frui," meaning "to enjoy"), but they were derived independently. The original meaning of "fruition" had nothing to do with fruit. Rather, when the term was first used in the early 15th century, it meant only "pleasurable use or possession." Not until the 19th century did "fruition" develop a second meaning, "the state of bearing fruit," possibly as the result of a mistaken assumption that "fruition" evolved from "fruit." The "state of bearing fruit" sense was followed quickly by the figurative application to anything that can be "realized" and metaphorically bear fruit, such as a plan or a project.