session English · revision 3718

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=late 14th century|origins=la sedeō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈseʃ.ᵊn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|sessioun]],^(Etymonline) [[bor|fro|session|t=act or state of sitting; assembly]] or directly [[der|la|sessiō|t=act of sitting; a seat; a session]] (accusative sessiōnem),^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) a noun of action from the past participle of [[m|la|sedēre|t=to sit]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*sed-|t=to sit]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[sit]], [[seat]], [[sessile]] and [[sediment]].^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A periodical sitting of a court: the late 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and in Hoad the 14th century, as a sitting together for conference, especially a judicial sitting.^(Hoad 1986) The OED's first example of the sitting of a court or council is from 1444.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The time or term during which a legislature meets daily for business is from the 1550s,^(Etymonline) or 1553 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The literal classical sense, the act of sitting, is rare in English^(Etymonline) except in theology, of Christ's sitting at the right hand of God, from the early 15th century^(Etymonline) or about 1557 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The more general “period set aside for an activity” is from 1920, in ''bull session'', probably extended from ''quarter sessions'' courts.^(Etymonline) A recording session in a studio is from 1927.^(Etymonline) In Scotland the ''session'' or kirk session is the governing body of elders of a parish.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 14th century – a sitting of a court.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1444 – a sitting of a council.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1553 – a series of sittings.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1557 – Christ's sitting at God's right hand.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1920 – ''bull session''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1927 – a recording session.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A meeting, or series of meetings, of a [[legislature]], court or council.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The term during which such meetings are held.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The part of a year or day when a school holds classes.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A period devoted to an activity: ''a recording session''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # In Presbyterian churches, the governing body of a congregation.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sessional]]

+ * [[sessionally]]

+ * [[intersession]]

+ * [[presession]]

+ * [[special session]]

+ * [[poster session]]

+ * [[skull session]]

+ * [[petty sessions]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sit]]

+ * [[seat]]

+ * [[sessile]]

+ * [[sediment]]

+ * [[assess]]

+ * [[obsess]]

+ * [[possess]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}