I.fin. al.; Col. 11, 2, 81, with the var. lect. sementem, a form which appears also in Plaut. Men. 5, 7, 23; Varr. L. L. 5, § 37; Cic. Att. 9, 8, 1; id. de Or. 2, 65, 281; Liv. 23, 48; Col. 2, 15, 1; 11, 2, 90; abl. semente, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 54, § 125; Ov. F. 1, 667; Pall. Nov. 1, 1: “sementi,” Col. 2, 9, 15; 2, 10, 8; 2, 11, 1; 11, 2, 82; gen. plur. sementium, Plaut. Poen. 5, 5, 33 dub.), f. semen.
I. A seeding, sowing (freq. aud class.; “syn. satio): nemo tam sine mente vivit, ut, quid sit sementis ac messis, quid arborum putatio ac vitium, omnino nesciat,” Cic. de Or. 1, 58, 249; so (opp. messis) Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 54, § 125: “sementim facito,” Cato, R. R. 27; so, “facere,” id. ib. 30; Col. 2, 16, 1; 11, 2, 81 sq.; Liv. 23, 48: “sementis tempus,” Flor. 1, 11, 13. —Plur.: “sementes quam maximas facere,” Caes. B. G. 1, 3; Plin. 18, 25, 59, § 223.— “Prov.: ut sementem feceris, ita metes,” as you sow, so will you reap, Cic. de Or. 2, 65, 261.—
B. Trop., a sowing: “a dis inmortalibus malorum sementem esse factam,” Cic. N. D. 3, 30, 75; so, “proscriptionis,” id. Att. 9, 8, 1.—Comically: “hisce ego jam sementem in ore faciam pugnosque obseram,” i. e. will plant blows, Plaut. Men. 5, 7, 23.—
II. Transf.
A. Seed-time: “agro sicco per sementim,” Cato, R. R. 61 fin.; 17, 2: “mediā sementi,” Col. 2, 10, 8; cf.: “prima, novissima, ultima,” id. 2, 9, 2.—
B. Seed-corn, seed sown (very rare): “ubi venit imber, multorum dierum sementis uno die surgit,” Col. 2, 8, 4: “aqua perfuderit sementem,” Vulg. Lev. 11, 38; id. Marc. 4, 26.—Of the seed or semen of animals, Arn. 5, 163.—
C. Sementes, the growing crops, the young crops, young corn: “vos date perpetuos teneris sementibus auctus,” Ov. F. 1, 679: “tempestiviores sementes,” Gell. 2, 29, 5; Vulg. Job, 39, 12.
