Sow \Sow\, v. t. [imp. Sowed; p. p. Sownor Sowed; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Sowing.] [OE. sowen, sawen, AS. s[=a]wan; akin to
   OFries. s?a, D. zaaijen, OS. & HG. s[=a]jan, G. s[aum]en,
   Icel. s[=a], Sw. s[*a], Dan. saae, Goth. saian, Lith.
   s[=e]ti, Russ. sieiate, L. serere, sevi. Cf. Saturday,
   Season, Seed, Seminary.]
   1. To scatter, as seed, upon the earth; to plant by strewing;
      as, to sow wheat. Also used figuratively: To spread
      abroad; to propagate. "He would sow some difficulty."
      --Chaucer.
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            A sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some
            seeds fell by the wayside.            --Matt. xiii.
                                                  3, 4.
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            And sow dissension in the hearts of brothers.
                                                  --Addison.
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   2. To scatter seed upon, in, or over; to supply or stock, as
      land, with seeds. Also used figuratively: To scatter over;
      to besprinkle.
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            The intellectual faculty is a goodly field, . . .
            and it is the worst husbandry in the world to sow it
            with trifles.                         --Sir M. Hale.
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            [He] sowed with stars the heaven.     --Milton.
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            Now morn . . . sowed the earth with orient pearl.
                                                  --Milton.
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