Is there an adjective that means 'fruit-like'?
Is there a word for fruit-like that could be uttered by an aristocratic gentleman of the 18th Century in a club such as Boodle's without sounding anachronous or ill-befitting of his class?
Before anyone mentions it, I have looked at 'fruitlike', but, due to its lack of use pre-1850 (Ngrams) and the fact it is being corrected by my spell-checker due to its rarity, I am discounting it.
Adjective
fruitlike (comparative more fruitlike, superlative most fruitlike)
- Resembling fruit.
- The chewing gum had a fruitlike fragrance.
(Wiktionary)
I have also looked at fruity but, in my setting, it seems slightly out-of-place, despite it being used at the time†.
Adjective
fruity (comparative fruitier, superlative fruitiest)
- containing fruit or fruit flavouring
- similar to fruit or tasting of fruit
- (informal) mad, crazy
- (informal, derogatory, LGBT, of a male) effeminate or otherwise flamboyant or homosexual
- (Britain, informal) sexually suggestive.
- His text message was filled with fruity language.
The sentence into which my word needs to fit is as follows:
By George! doesn't that painting render his head so dreadfully [fruity]
† It was used at the time, but I am unsure as to with which meaning; № 3, 4, 5 would certainly not fit.
fruity (adj.)
1650s, from fruit + -y (2). Related: Fruitiness.
(Etymoline)
The example sentence doesn't need to be too rigid; if you can find a good word, don't let the sentence stop you!
Fructiform appears to exist as an obscure word for "having the form of a fruit" Merriam-Webster. My Collins dictionary doesn't list it, and I can't find any further details of how long it has been in use.