But these forms, with all their cases and persons and tenses, give us no idea of the fruitfulness of a root, especially if we follow its ramifications in the cognate languages. In Greek we have φέρω, in Latin _fero_, in Gothic _bairan_, in English _to bear_. The principal meanings which this root assumes are, to carry, carry hither, carry away, carry in, to support, to maintain, to bring forth, etc. We find simple derivatives such as the German _Bahre_, English _bier_ (French _bière_, borrowed), and also φέρετρον and _feretrum_, as well as _ferculum_ (a litter). On the other hand there is φόρετρον (a porter’s wages), and φaρέτρa (quiver). And _barrow_ in wheel-barrow has the same origin. _Burden_ is that which is borne, then a load, as, for instance, the burden of years. A step farther takes us to φερτός (bearable) and ἄφερτος (unbearable). We also find in Greek δύσφορος, which corresponds exactly to the Sanskrit _durbhara_, with the meaning “heavy to bear.” In Latin, however, _fertus_ signifies fruitful, like _fertilis_, _ferax_. We say, “The earth bears” (_trägt_), and _Getreide_ (grain) meant originally that borne (_getragen_) by the earth (hence in Middle High German _Geträgede_). So we have also _far_, the oldest corn grown by the Romans, derived from _fero_, and along with it _fārina_ (flour), if it stands for _farrina_. _Far_ may originally, however, have also meant food, maintenance, and the Anglo-Saxon _bere_, the English _barley_, are again related to it. Of course we have the same root in derivatives, such as _lucifer_, _frugifer_, in Greek καρποφόρος or φερέκαρπος. In German it becomes a mere suffix, as _fruchtbar_, _dankbar_, _scheinbar_, _urbar_. Like φόρος, φορά means also what is carried or brought, hence specially tribute, duty, tax. To bear a child was used in the sense of to bring forth, and from this we have many derivatives such as _birth_, _born_, and Gothic _berusjos_ (parents), _parentes_ and _barn_ (the child), like the Greek φέρμα.