What does seedtime mean?
Seedtime means the time of year when farmers sow seed, especially the season associated with planting a particular crop. In ordinary agricultural use, it names a practical part of the farming cycle: the period in which sowing must take place for plants to mature later in the year. Seedtime can also be used figuratively for a formative stage in which projects, careers, institutions, or other developments are initiated and prepared for future growth. This metaphorical sense often carries a reflective or nostalgic tone, presenting beginnings as essential to eventual success. Although it is less common than the plainer expressions “sowing season” and “planting time,” seedtime can add a sense of seasonal rhythm and an association with growth. The expression “seedtime and harvest” links the beginning of a process with its eventual fulfilment, giving the word a memorable place in both agricultural language and biblical prose.
nounThe period during which seed is sown, especially the season designated for sowing crops. Figuratively, it can mean a formative period in which future growth or development is established.
- The agricultural season or period during which seed is sown.
- A figurative period of beginnings, development, or preparation that gives rise to later growth.
"The farmers waited for the spring seedtime before preparing their fields."
"Rainfall during the autumn seedtime was essential for a good harvest."
"For the young composer, those summer months were a seedtime for an ambitious new career."
The plural is rare and most likely to appear when discussing different agricultural seasons or historical periods.
"Long dry seedtimes reduced the farmers’ harvests."
The familiar phrase “seedtime and harvest” appears in the King James Bible’s account of Noah’s covenant with the world.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does seedtime come from?
Seedtime is a compound of “seed” and “time.” “Seed” comes from Old English sǣd, while “time” continues Old English tīma, a word borrowed from Latin. The compound is associated with the agricultural cycle of sowing and harvesting, and the biblical phrase “seedtime and harvest” appears in the King James Version of Genesis.
How seedtime is actually used
A somewhat literary and uncommon word in contemporary English. It is most naturally used of an agricultural season, while its figurative sense has a formal, often nostalgic tone.