Infecundity is spelled with four syllables: /ˌɪn.fəˈkʌn.də.ti/. The first syllable, "in," means "not" or "lack of." The second syllable, "fe," is pronounced like "fuh" and is spelled with an "e" instead of "i" because it follows the rule of using "e" to represent the "uh" sound when a consonant is followed by an "e." The third syllable, "cun," is pronounced like "cuhn" and the fourth syllable, "di," is pronounced like "dee." The word means the inability or failure to produce offspring.
Infecundity is a noun that refers to the state or quality of being unfit or unable to produce offspring, or lacking fertility. It can describe the incapability of an organism to reproduce, or the absence of fertility in a certain population or species.
In a biological context, infecundity may occur as a result of various factors such as genetic disorders, hormonal imbalances, physical abnormalities, or reproductive dysfunctions. It can affect both plants and animals, hindering their ability to propagate and sustain their species. Infecundity can be temporary or permanent, and it can lead to serious implications, such as population decline or extinction.
The term infecundity is also used metaphorically to describe situations in which ideas, creativity, or productivity are limited or stagnant. For example, a writer experiencing writer's block may feel an infecundity of ideas, while a society going through a period of cultural stagnation may be said to suffer from a social infecundity.
Overall, infecundity refers to the state of being unproductive, barren, or infertile, whether applied to the reproductive capacity of an organism or to abstract concepts such as creativity or productivity.
Sterility in woman, barrenness.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Unfruitfulness.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "infecundity" is derived from the combination of two Latin roots: "in" meaning "not" and "fecundus" meaning "fruitful" or "productive". The term "infecundity" is used to describe the inability or failure to produce offspring, usually in reference to humans, animals, or plants.