thoughtseed

plural thoughtseeds · alternative thought-seed · alternative thought seed

1. countableuncountableA metaphor for the very beginning of a concept, belief, or intention that has the potential to grow, develop, and eventually influence future reality.

   Even so you yourself sow thoughtseed among your friends and union and family, even if you don't know you are a-sowing.

   1905, International Molders' and Foundry Workers' Journal

   2 more examples

   Surely the tiniest thoughtseed planted so long ago in the mother-heart of the world ought to have led us ere this to see that, whether we know it or not, we do weave garments for our children's spirits, before they are responsible, by our attitude towards them and towards life.

   1896, Mrs. George A. Paull, Seed Thoughts for Mothers, page 210

   […] in discussing Vygotsky's notion of inner speech, elucidates, "Unformulated in words, a thoughtseed remains vague and provides only the possibility of having a meaning" (p. 44).

   1997, (Please provide the book title or journal name)