September 23, 2009
fruition (noun)
\froo-ISH-un\ Hear it!
What does it mean?
1 : the state of bearing fruit2 : the state of being real or complete : realization, accomplishment
How do you use it?
Hannah's dream of starring in the school play came to fruition when she played the lead role in the spring musical.
Are you a word wiz?

We can trace the word "fruition" to the Latin word "frui." What do you think "frui" means?

If you picked B, you'll enjoy hearing it's correct! The Latin "frui" means "to enjoy." Beginning back in the 15th century, "fruition" meant "the pleasurable use or possession of something," a meaning rare today, but true to its root. You might have thought "fruition" comes from "fruit." Although both words trace to "frui," they developed independently of each other. However, in the 19th century, "fruition" developed a second meaning, "the state of bearing fruit," possibly because of the mistaken idea that "fruition" evolved from "fruit." That second meaning quickly extended to anything that can be realized or accomplished and -- figuratively speaking -- bear fruit.
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