sow
Formssows, sowing, sowed, sown
- 1To scatter or plant seeds over an area, or to scatter other things over a surface in the same way.
Most growers sow directly into the beds once the soil has warmed.
By the end of the week, he had sown the whole north field with winter wheat.
UsagePast sowed, past participle usually sown: had sown the field. Do not confuse with sew (needle and thread).
- 2To spread something widely among people or cause it to take hold, usually something unwelcome such as doubt or dissension.
Anonymous posts began to sow confusion among voters days before the election.
The rumors had sown distrust between the two departments long before the merger fell apart.
UsageCommon in sow doubt, sow confusion, or sow the seeds of, often with among, between, or in.
Similarspread, cause, breed, foster, create
Note
Here the seed is a moral one. The King James Bible of 1611 warns that those who plow iniquity and sow wickedness reap the same, and the proverb as you sow, so shall you reap keeps the planting verb in view.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- The King James Bible was first published in 1611. wwwe.lib.cam.ac.uk
- The King James Bible contains the stated warning about sowing wickedness and reaping the same, in Job 4:8. en.wikisource.org
- “As you sow, so shall you reap” is an established proverb. en.wiktionary.org
- 3An adult female pig, or the female of certain other animals, such as a bear or guinea pig.
The sow farrowed eleven piglets overnight, and every one of them survived.
Breeding sows are moved into separate pens a few days before they give birth.
UsageRhymes with cow, unlike the verb sow (to plant seeds), which rhymes with go.
Note
Two unrelated words meet in this spelling. This one comes through Old English sugu, probably from an ancient root meaning "pig", while the verb for planting seed comes from Old English sāwan. Its plural is sows, though older English could also use swine.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- The animal noun and planting verb have separate origins, through Old English sugu and sāwan respectively; their unrelatedness follows from the distinct etymologies. en.wiktionary.org
- The animal noun probably derives ultimately from a reconstructed ancient word meaning pig. en.wiktionary.org
- The plural is sows, with swine also recorded as an archaic plural. en.wiktionary.org
Less common meanings
- 4A woman regarded as contemptible, often one who is fat; used as a crude insult.
In the novel, the cruel landlord sneers at his tenant and calls her a greedy sow.
'That sow next door has complained about our dog again,' he muttered.
Similarcow
Note
The insult works by comparing a woman to the farm animal, so it often attacks her body as well as her character.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- The insult figuratively applies the animal noun to a contemptible woman, often with reference to fatness. en.wiktionary.org
- 5Obsolete spelling of sew: to fasten or join material with stitches made by a needle and thread.
- 6A sowbug, a small land crustacean that lives in damp places.
- 7A family name.
- 8A mass of metal, such as iron, that has solidified in a mold.
- 9A channel that carries molten metal to the molds where it is cast.
- 10A covered shed formerly used by besiegers while they filled in and crossed the ditch around a place under siege, dug toward or beneath its walls, and did similar work.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
Proto-Indo-European *su(H)kéh₂, built on *suH- ("pig"), is the probable source of Proto-Germanic *sugō and Proto-West Germanic *sugu. These led to Old English sugu and Middle English sowe. Relatives include English swine, Dutch zeug, German Sau, Swedish sugga, Sanskrit sūkará ("swine, boar"), Welsh hwch ("pig"), Latin sūs, and Ancient Greek hûs. Soor is a doublet.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 10 facts
- Proto-Indo-European *su(H)kéh₂, derived from *suH- meaning “pig”, is the probable ancestor of Proto-Germanic *sugō. en.wiktionary.org
- The transmission runs through Proto-Germanic *sugō, Proto-West Germanic *sugu, Old English sugu and Middle English sowe. en.wiktionary.org
- English swine is etymologically related to sow. en.wiktionary.org
- Dutch zeug is etymologically related to sow. en.wiktionary.org
- German Sau is etymologically related to sow. en.wiktionary.org
- Swedish sugga is etymologically related to sow. en.wiktionary.org
- Sanskrit sūkará means “swine, boar” and is etymologically related to sow. en.wiktionary.org
- Welsh hwch means “pig” and is etymologically related to sow. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin sūs and Ancient Greek hûs are etymologically related to sow. en.wiktionary.org
- Soor is a doublet of sow. en.wiktionary.org
Proto-Indo-European *seh₁- is the source of Proto-Germanic *sēaną and Proto-West Germanic *sāan, which became Old English sāwan and Middle English sowen. Dutch zaaien, German säen, and Danish and Norwegian Bokmål så are related.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts
- Proto-Indo-European *seh₁- is the source of Proto-Germanic *sēaną. en.wiktionary.org
- Proto-West Germanic *sāan descends from Proto-Germanic *sēaną. en.wiktionary.org
- Old English sāwan descends from Proto-West Germanic *sāan. en.wiktionary.org
- Middle English sowen descends from Old English sāwan. en.wiktionary.org
- Dutch zaaien, German säen, Danish så and Norwegian Bokmål så are related to English sow. en.wiktionary.org