Etymology
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seminal (adj.)

late 14c., "of or pertaining to seed or semen, of the elements of reproduction," from Old French seminal (14c.) and directly from Latin seminalis "of or belonging to seed; good for seed," from semen (genitive seminis) "seed" (from PIE root *sē- "to sow"). Figurative sense ("having the properties of a seed") is attested by 1630s, "rudimentary, primary; full of possibilities." Related: Seminally; seminality.

Entries linking to seminal

*sē- 

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to sow." 

It forms all or part of: disseminate; inseminate; seed; seme (adj.); semen; seminal; seminar; seminary; semination; sinsemilla; sow (v.); season.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Latin serere "to sow;" Old Church Slavonic sejo, sejati; Lithuanian sju, sti "to sow;" Old English sawan "to sow;" Old Prussian semen "seed," Lithuanian smenys "seed of flax," Old Church Slavonic seme, Old High German samo, German Same;Old English sed, sd "that which may be sown; an individual grain of seed." 

updated on May 24, 2022

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Dictionary entries near seminal

semidemisemiquaver

semi-detached

semidiurnal

semifinal

semi-monthly

seminal

seminar

seminarian

seminary

semination

Seminole

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