Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sow \Sow\, v. t. [imp. {Sowed}; p. p. {Sown}or {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["a]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.

            A sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some
            seeds fell by the wayside.            --Matt. xiii.
                                                  3, 4.

            And sow dissension in the hearts of brothers.
                                                  --Addison.

   2. To scatter seed upon, in, or over; to supply or stock, as
      land, with seeds. Also used figuratively: To scatter over;
      to besprinkle.

            The intellectual faculty is a goodly field, . . .
            and it is the worst husbandry in the world to sow it
            with trifles.                         --Sir M. Hale.

            [He] sowed with stars the heaven.     --Milton.

            Now morn . . . sowed the earth with orient pearl.
                                                  --Milton.