Word a Day
seminal
What does seminal mean?
seminal (adjective): highly influential, especially in some original way, and providing a basis for future development or research.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you use seminal in a sentence?
- Seminal ideas of one discipline can influence the growth of another. (Princeton WordNet 3.1)
How do you pronounce seminal?
/ˈsɛmənəl/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does seminal come from?
From Middle English seminal, semynal, from Old French seminal, seminale.
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “seminal”?
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What does “seminal” mean?
of dubious veracity; of questionable accuracy or truthfulness; anecdotal or in the nature of an urban legend
Not quite: that's what apocryphal means.
feeling or exhibiting envy; jealously desiring the excellence or good fortune of another; maliciously grudging
Not quite: that's what envious means.
highly influential, especially in some original way, and providing a basis for future development or research
Right! That's what “seminal” means.
occurring, arising, or functioning without any delay; happening within an imperceptibly brief period of time
Not quite: that's what instantaneous means.
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