/ˈsiːdi/
OriginFrom Middle English sedy, equivalent to seed + -y.
The senses with negative connotation, first attested by 1725 in slang, originally especially “poor, out of money”, probably arose from the metaphor of a flower that has gone to seed, and is no longer considered beautiful. From there the word came to be used to describe unwell or past-their-prime people, and parallelly run-down places and by extension low-income or crime-affected urban areas. Compare the figurative expressions go to seed (by 1817), etc., originally in reference to plants, “cease flowering as seeds develop”.
- Containing or full of seeds.
“Pomegranates are as seedy as any fruit you are likely to see.”
- Seedlike; having the flavour of seeds.
- colloquialHaving a peculiar flavour supposed to be derived from the weeds growing among the vines; said of certain kinds of French brandy.
- figurativelyShabby, run-down, possibly connected with bad, dishonest or illegal activities, somewhat disreputable.
“Sleazy city / Seedy films / Breathing so heavy / Next to my neighbour / Let’s get acquainted”
“The healing power of alcohol / Only works on scrapes and nicks / And not on girls in seedy bars / Who drown themselves in it”
- figurativelyUntidy, unkempt.
“His seedy, dirt-smudged visage caused her to look at him askance.”
“Besides the broad-brimmed hat, he was distinguished by a spotted tie, a pair of seedy check trousers rather baggy in the seat, and a cut-away coat, much too tight for him.”
- figurativelyInfirm, unwell, gone to seed.
“With her aching back and pronounced limp, she was feeling particularly seedy today.”
- figurativelySuffering the effects of a hangover.
“After last night’s party we were all feeling pretty seedy.”
Formsseedier(comparative) · seediest(superlative)