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procreant

Procreant is an adjective meaning producing offspring or capable of doing so. It describes organisms or processes that are reproductive in nature, and can also be used in a figurative sense to denote generative force or creative potential. The term is relatively rare in contemporary scientific writing and modern prose, where procreative or fecund are preferred. It is more commonly found in historical, religious, or poetic contexts, where writers seek an archaic or elevated tone.

Etymology: Procreant comes from Latin procreare, formed from pro- 'forward' and creare 'to create.' In English,

Usage notes: As an adjective, procreant can modify nouns like 'powers,' 'instincts,' or 'forces,' e.g., 'the procreant

Related terms: procreative, fecund, fertile, reproductive.

See also: reproduction, procreation, fertility.

it
has
appeared
since
Early
Modern
English,
often
in
moral,
philosophical,
or
natural-philosophical
discourse.
It
may
appear
hyphenated
as
pro-creant
in
older
texts,
though
the
modern
form
is
procreant
as
a
single
word.
powers
of
nature.'
In
biology,
more
precise
terms
describe
reproductive
capacity
of
individual
organisms
rather
than
the
blanket
attribute
of
being
procreant.