Seminal (adj)
sem-in-ul
Strongly influencing later developments.
Late Middle English (in seminal (sense 2)): from Old French seminal or Latin seminalis, from semen ‘seed’. seminal (sense 1) dates from the mid 17th century.
Example sentences
“All scientists look first to the seminal works.”
Wonky (adj) won-kee Not straight or balanced, off kilter. First recorded in 1915–20; perhaps variant of dialectal wanky, equivalent to wank(le) ( Middle English wankel, Old English wancol. (more…)