season

I. noun Etymology: Middle English sesoun, from Anglo-French seison natural season, appropriate time, from Latin sation-, satio action of sowing, from serere to sow — more at sow Date: 14th century 1. a. a time characterized by a particular circumstance or feature <

in a season of religious awakening — F. A. Christie

> b. a suitable or natural time or occasion <

when my season comes to sit on David's throne — John Milton

> c. an indefinite period of time ; while <

sent home again to her father for a season — Francis Hackett

> 2. a. a period of the year characterized by or associated with a particular activity or phenomenon <

hay fever season

>: as (1) a period associated with some phase or activity of agriculture (as growth or harvesting) (2) a period in which an animal engages in some activity (as migrating or mating); also estrus, heat (3) the period normally characterized by a particular kind of weather <

a long rainy season

> (4) a period marked by special activity especially in some field <

tourist season

> <

hunting season

> (5) a period in which a place is most frequented b. one of the four quarters into which the year is commonly divided c. the time of a major holiday 3. year <

a boy of seven seasons

> 4. [Middle English sesoun, from sesounen to season] seasoning 5. the schedule of official games played or to be played by a sports team during a playing season <

got through the season undefeated

> 6. off-season <

closed for the season

> II. verb (seasoned; seasoning) Etymology: Middle English sesounen, back-formation from sesounde flavored, from Anglo-French seisoné brought to a desired state, from seison Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to give (food) more flavor or zest by adding seasoning or savory ingredients b. to give a distinctive quality to as if by seasoning; especially to make more agreeable <

advice seasoned with wit

> c. archaic to qualify by admixture ; temper 2. a. to treat (as wood or a skillet) so as to prepare for use b. to make fit by experience <

a seasoned veteran

> intransitive verb to become seasoned