To plant seeds in soil, or to scatter or spread something, especially ideas or discord, among people.
From Old English 'sawan,' from Proto-Germanic 'sawanan.' The basic meaning is agricultural, but evolved metaphorically to mean spreading anything (like rumors or trouble).
When we say someone 'sows discord,' we're using a farming metaphor from thousands of years ago—the idea that bad things, like seeds, grow and spread if you plant them in people's minds!
The verb 'sow' (agricultural) is neutral, but 'sow' (female pig) has historically been used metaphorically to demean women as breeders or resources, particularly in reproductive contexts and animal husbandry discourse that mirrors women's bodies to animals.
In agricultural/botanical contexts, 'sows seeds' is neutral. When discussing animals or metaphorically, be precise about whether you're referring to breeding females and why that distinction matters.
["female pigs","plant seeds","scatter"]
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