philoprogenitive

adjective

phil·o·pro·gen·i·tive ˌfi-lə-prō-ˈje-nə-tiv

: tending to produce offspring : prolific

: of, relating to, or characterized by love of offspring

philoprogenitiveness noun

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Philoprogenitive (a combination of phil-, meaning "loving" or "having an affinity for," and Latin progenitus, meaning "begot" or "begotten") can refer to the production of offspring or to the loving of them. Nineteenth-century phrenologists used the word to designate the "bump" or "organ" of the brain believed to be the seat of a parent's instinctual love for his or her children. Despite the word's scientific look and sound, however, it appears, albeit not very frequently, in all types of writing - technical, literary, informal, and otherwise.

Word History

Etymology

phil- + Latin progenitus, past participle of progignere to beget — more at progenitor

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of philoprogenitive was in 1842

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Style

“Philoprogenitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/philoprogenitive. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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