foison

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English

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French foison, from Latin fūsiō, fūsiōnem. Doublet of fusion.

Pronunciation

Noun

foison (plural foisons)

  1. (archaic) An abundance, a rich supply of.
    • 1820, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Oedipus Tyrannus; Or, Swellfoot The Tyrant: A Tragedy in Two Acts:
      The earth did never mean her foizon
      For those who crown life’s cup with poison
      Of fanatic rage and meaningless revenge—
      But for those radiant spirits, who are still
      The standard-bearers in the van of Change.
  2. (archaic) Harvest.
    • 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 7:
      Gon. [] Treaſon, fellony, / Sword, Pike, Knife, Gun, or neede of any Engine / Would I not haue : but Nature ſhould bring forth / Of it owne kinde, all foyzon, all abundance / To feed my innocent people.
  3. (chiefly Scotland) Strength, power.

Translations


French

Etymology

From Middle French foison, from Old French foison, inherited from Latin fūsiōnem, singular accusative of fūsiō. Doublet of fusion, a borrowing.

Pronunciation

Noun

foison f (uncountable)

  1. (dated) abundance, great deal, load
    J'ai foison de copines: I've got plenty of girlfriends.

Derived terms

Further reading


Middle French

Etymology

From Old French foison.

Noun

foison f (plural foisons)

  1. much; a lot of

Descendants

  • French: foison

Old French

Etymology

Inherited from Latin fūsiō, fūsiōnem.

Noun

foison oblique singularf (oblique plural foisons, nominative singular foison, nominative plural foisons)

  1. much; a lot of

Descendants