session
UK[ˈseʃn]US[ˈseʃn]
n
A period of time used for a particular activity, especially by a group of people.
n
A formal meeting or series of meetings of a court, parliament, or other official group.
n
A period during which a school, college, or university holds classes.
Etymology
The word 'session' entered English in the late 14th century from the Old French 'session', which itself derived from the Latin 'sessiōnem' (nominative 'sessiō'), meaning 'the act of sitting'. This Latin noun stems from the past participle stem 'sess-' of the verb 'sedēre', which means 'to sit'. The core logic connects the physical act of sitting down to the formal, seated gatherings of deliberative bodies like councils or courts. Over time, the meaning broadened from the formal meeting itself to any dedicated period of activity, such as a study session or a legislative session, while retaining the connotation of a convened, time-bound event.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Latin. It is not productively formed from separable morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The committee held a long session to discuss the new policy.
The therapist offers 50-minute counseling sessions.
The court is now in session.