Fertilizer
/ˈfɜːrtəlaɪzər/noun
A substance added to soil or plants to supply nutrients and promote growth.
Did you know?Fertilizer ultimately traces to Latin ferre, “to bear or carry,” linking plant fertility to the ancient idea of land carrying—or bearing—fruit.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bher-
“To carry, bear, or bring”
Classical Latin
Latin
ferre
“To bear, carry, or produce”
Classical Latin
Latin
fertilis
“Fruitful, fertile, or productive”
16th Century
French
fertiliser
“To make fertile or productive”
17th Century
English
fertilize
“To make fertile or improve fertility”
19th Century
English
fertilizer
“A substance used to make soil fertile”