Resows

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To plant seeds again in the same area for growing crops
2. to reestablish or regenerate vegetation by scattering seeds anew
3. to cultivate previously sown land by renewing its supply of seeds

Etymology: The verb in question appears to be a back-formation or a derived form related to the word "sow," which means to plant seeds by scattering them on or in the earth. The prefix "re-" typically conveys the sense of doing something again. Thus, this verb likely means “to sow again” or “to plant seeds a second time.” The root "sow" itself comes from Old English "sawan," which dates back to Germanic origins and is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Old High German "sāen" and Old Norse "sá." These all pertain to the agricultural act of scattering seed. The transformation into a verb with the prefix "re-" follows a common pattern in English where actions are repeated or reversed by adding this prefix, which originates from Latin but was widely adopted into English. While "resows" as a form is straightforward in its construction, its recorded use as a distinct verb is less common and might be found primarily in agricultural or gardening contexts where replanting is necessary due to crop failure or thinning. The pattern of prefixing "re-" to verbs to denote repetition has been productive in English since at least the Middle English period, gaining prominence in Early Modern English. In sum, the verb combines a very old English root with a Latin-derived prefix to create a word that means to perform the original action once more, fitting neatly into English’s flexible word-formation system.

Synonyms: replant, reseed, re-sow

Antonyms: harvest, pluck