seminary

From Latin sēminārium, from sēmen (“seed”). Compare seminar. In the ground sense, from Middle English semynair, semynary.

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛmənɛɹi/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛmɪnəɹi/, /ˈsɛmɪnɹi/

seminary (plural seminaries)

1. A theological school for the training of rabbis, priests, or ministers.
2. A private residential school for girls.
   • 1885, W. S. Gilbert, A. Sullivan, The Mikado

     Three little maids who, all unwary,
     Come from a ladies' seminary

3. (Mormonism) A class of religious education for youths ages 14–18 that accompanies normal secular education.
4. A piece of ground where seed is sown for producing plants for transplantation.
   • 1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], published 1708, OCLC 13320837:

     I shall first begin with the Seminary and Nursery, as what is the first Work to be taken care of where you have not the opportunity of buying Trees

   • 1664, J[ohn] E[velyn], Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-trees and the Propagation of Timber in His Majesties Dominions. […], London: […] Jo[hn] Martyn, and Ja[mes] Allestry, printers to the Royal Society, […], OCLC 926218248, chapter II (Of the Seminary), page 7:

     [B]ut if you draw them [seedlings] only for the thinning of your Seminary, prick them into ſome empty Beds at one foot interval, leaving the reſt at two or three.

5. (by extension) The place or original stock from which anything is brought or produced.
   • 1695, John Woodward, “(please specify the page)”, in An Essay toward a Natural History of the Earth: And Terrestrial Bodies, Especially Minerals: […], London: […] Ric[hard] Wilkin […], OCLC 1179517876:

     the Seminary or Promptuary that furnisheth forth Matter for the Formation and Increment of Animal and Vegetable Bodies

6. (obsolete) Seminal state or polity.
   • 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], OCLC 152706203:

     The hadn of God that first created the Earth, hath with variety disposed the principles of all things; wisely contriving them in their proper seminaries

7. A Roman Catholic priest educated in a foreign seminary; a seminarist.
   • 1638, Jeremy Taylor, Sermon on Gunpowder Treason

     I shall not need to instance in the effects which this bull produced; the treason of Watson and Cleark, two English seminaries, are sufficiently known

8. (archaic) An academic seminar.

• seminarian
• seminarist

• seminar

seminary (not comparable)

1. Of or relating to seed; seminal.