/ ˈsemɪnl; NAmE / adjective
1.
( formal ) very important and having a strong influence on later developments :
a seminal work / article / study
2.
[ usually before noun ] ( technical ) of or containing semen :
seminal fluid
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in sense 2): from Old French seminal or Latin seminalis , from semen seed. Sense 1 dates from the mid 17th cent.