Fertile Ground
Posted on December 14, 2007 - Filed Under ground
The Phrase
The phrase fertile ground has an obvious definition when the words are given their own meaning and then combined for an entirely new thought. This is the same concept that goes with any phrase that is used in the American English language, as has been mentioned in previous articles. Let’s take a closer look.
The Definition of Fertile
The word fertile, which originally comes from the Latin word fertilis, meaning fruitful, is an adjective used to describe whether or not a biological creature has the ability to healthily produce offspring or children. In opposition, the word infertile means that a biological creature is not capable of producing offspring healthily or at all.
In Egyptian mythology, Isis is the Mother and Fertility Goddess who inflicts fertility on anyone who gets near her. She has also been prayed to by families who wish to become pregnant.
The Definition of Ground
The word ground comes from the Old English word grund and is a noun which refers to a specific area, measurement or section of earth, land or terrain. In other words, what you walk on and what we build on is ground. However, because the word ground literally refers to the most common element, carbon, the word sometimes takes the connotation of seriousness or weight in the English language in philosophy. For example, Ground yourself! means "get a grip" or "find your stability" which is a serious, philosophical statement implying that the recipient of the phrase is not mentally well or perhaps not doing well in life.
Defining Fertile Ground
When placing the words fertile and ground together, the phrase Fertile Ground is born, which literally means a section, place or part of land, terrain or earth that is very capable of producing fruit, offspring or perhaps crops. Most likely, since the phrase is not commonly used in the American language, fertile ground refers to a field’s ability to grow anything on it.
Gardens whose soil is well cared for and amended when damaged, would be very fertile ground for most types of plants. Whether ornamental flowers, trees or shrubs, anything that grows in the ground and flourishes there is growing on fertile ground.
Other Uses for Ground
Other phrases created with the use of the word ground would include dangerous ground, a fun phrase that is never used for literal purposes. Instead, dangerous ground is used when warning another person of how delicate the subject they have at hand is. For example, "Boy, you are walking on dangerous ground," means "watch your mouth" or "I don’t like what you have to say, therefore I am threatening you if you don’t change the subject."
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