BARREN

Barren. Barren
For a woman to be barren was accounted a severe punishment among the Jews (Gen. 16:2; 30:1-23; 1 Sam. 1:6, 27; Isa. 47:9; 49:21; Luke 1:25). Instances of barrenness are noticed (Gen. 11:30; 25:21; 29:31; Judg. 13:2, 3; Luke 1:7, 36).

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barren. Barren, a. unfruitful, scanty, dull, unmeaning

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Bar″ren (băr″ren), a. [[OE. barein, OF. brehaing, fem. brehaigne, baraigne, F. bréhaigne; of uncertain origin; cf. Arm. brékhañ, markhañ, sterile; LL. brana a sterile mare, principally in Aquitanian and Spanish documents; Bisc. barau, baru, fasting.]] 1. 1. Incapable of producing offspring; producing no young; sterile; — said of women and female animals.
She was barren of children. Bp. Hall. 2. 2. Not producing vegetation, or useful vegetation; sterile. “Barren mountain tracts.” Macaulay.
3. 3. Unproductive; fruitless; unprofitable; empty.
Brilliant but barren reveries. Prescott. Some schemes will appear barren of hints and matter. Swift. 4. 4. Mentally dull; stupid. Shak.
Barren flower, a flower which has only stamens without a pistil, or which has neither stamens nor pistils. — Barren Grounds (Geog.), a vast tract in British America northward of the forest regions. — Barren Ground bear (Zoöl.), a peculiar bear, inhabiting the Barren Grounds, now believed to be a variety of the brown bear of Europe. — Barren Ground caribou (Zoöl.), a small reindeer (Rangifer Grœnlandicus) peculiar to the Barren Grounds and Greenland.