Lewis & Short

sēmentis, is (acc. sementim, Cic. N. D. 3, 30, 75 B. and K.; Cato, R. R. 17, 2; 17, 27; 17, 30; 17, 61 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].

  1. 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) id. 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.
    1. 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.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. 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.
    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.
    3. 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.