Began to grow or grow out, especially when something suddenly appears or starts developing.
From Old English 'sprutan,' related to Old Norse 'spretta.' The word originally meant the growth of a plant shoot, then extended metaphorically to any sudden growth or appearance.
Seeds literally wait—sometimes for years—until the exact right conditions trigger sprouting; this biological patience inspired the metaphor we use for ideas and movements that 'suddenly' appear but were germinating all along.
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