seedy
UK[ˈsiːdi]US[ˈsiːdi]
adj
Looking dirty or in bad condition because of a lack of care
adj
Involving or connected with low moral standards or illegal activities
Morpheme Breakdown
seed
y
seed
the small hard part of a plant
y
adjective-forming suffix
Etymology
The modern adjective 'seedy' derives from the literal condition of a plant that has gone to seed, becoming dry, withered, and shabby in appearance. This botanical metaphor, first recorded in the 18th century, was extended to describe people and places that look similarly run-down and neglected. The further semantic shift to describe morally dubious or sordid environments, such as a 'seedy bar', logically follows from the association of decay and poor condition with disreputable settings.
Analysis
Structure: seed (the small hard part of a plant) + y (adjective-forming suffix)
"seed" originates from Old English "sǣd", meaning "that which may be sown". The suffix "-y" is a native English suffix from Old English "-ig", used to form adjectives meaning "full of" or "characterized by".
Examples
He was staying in a seedy hotel downtown.
The once-grand theater had become a seedy venue for cheap shows.
The investigation led them into the seedy world of organized crime.