Past tense of seed; planted seeds in soil for growing plants, or arranged competitors in a tournament based on their ranking or ability.
From Old English 'sæd', meaning the reproductive unit of plants. The tournament sense developed in tennis around 1898, metaphorically comparing the strategic placement of top players to the careful spacing of seeds in a garden.
The evolution of 'seeded' from agriculture to sports is a beautiful example of metaphorical language development - both involve strategic placement for optimal results. A seeded tennis player and a seeded garden both represent careful planning to ensure the best possible outcome.
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