\Sem"i*nal\, a. [L. seminalis, fr. semen, seminis, seed,
akin to serere to sow: cf. F. seminal. See {Sow} to scatter
seed.]
1. Pertaining to, containing, or consisting of, seed or
   semen; as, the seminal fluid.
2. Contained in seed; holding the relation of seed, source,
   or first principle; holding the first place in a series of
   developed results or consequents; germinal; radical;
   primary; original; as, seminal principles of generation;
   seminal virtue.
         The idea of God is, beyond all question or
         comparison, the one great seminal principle. --Hare.
{Seminal leaf} (Bot.), a seed leaf, or cotyleden.
{Seminal receptacle}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Spermatheca}.

\Sem"i*nal\, n.
A seed. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne.