Word Study
season
CIDE DICTIONARY
season, n. [OE. sesoun, F. saison, properly, the sowing time, fr. L. satio a sowing, a planting, fr. serere, satum, to sow, plant; akin to E. sow, v., to scatter, as seed.].
- One of the divisions of the year, marked by alterations in the length of day and night, or by distinct conditions of temperature, moisture, etc., caused mainly by the relative position of the earth with respect to the sun. In the north temperate zone, four seasons, namely, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, are generally recognized. Some parts of the world have three seasons, -- the dry, the rainy, and the cold; other parts have but two, -- the dry and the rainy. [1913 Webster]"The several seasons of the year in their beauty." [1913 Webster]
- Hence, a period of time, especially as regards its fitness for anything contemplated or done; a suitable or convenient time; proper conjuncture; as, the season for planting; the season for rest. [1913 Webster]"The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs." [1913 Webster]
- A period of time not very long; a while; a time. [1913 Webster]"Thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season." [1913 Webster]
- That which gives relish; seasoning. [1913 Webster]"You lack the season of all natures, sleep." [1913 Webster]
season, v. t.
- To render suitable or appropriate; to prepare; to fit. [1913 Webster]"He is fit and seasoned for his passage." [1913 Webster]
- To fit for any use by time or habit; to habituate; to accustom; to inure; to ripen; to mature; as, to season one to a climate. [1913 Webster]
- Hence, to prepare by drying or hardening, or removal of natural juices; as, to season timber. [1913 Webster]
- To fit for taste; to render palatable; to give zest or relish to; to spice; as, to season food. [1913 Webster]
- Hence, to fit for enjoyment; to render agreeable. [1913 Webster]"You season still with sports your serious hours." [1913 Webster]"The proper use of wit is to season conversation." [1913 Webster]
- To qualify by admixture; to moderate; to temper. Shak. [1913 Webster]
- To imbue; to tinge or taint. Fuller. [1913 Webster]"Season their younger years with prudent and pious principles." [1913 Webster]
- To copulate with; to impregnate. Holland. [1913 Webster]
season, v. i.
- To become mature; to grow fit for use; to become adapted to a climate. [1913 Webster]
- To become dry and hard, by the escape of the natural juices, or by being penetrated with other substance; as, timber seasons in the sun. [1913 Webster]
- To give token; to savor. Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
season, n. & v.
--n.
1 each of the four divisions of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) associated with a type of weather and a stage of vegetation.
2 a time of year characterized by climatic or other features (the dry season).
3 a the time of year when a plant is mature or flowering etc. b the time of year when an animal breeds or is hunted.
4 a proper or suitable time.
5 a time when something is plentiful or active or in vogue.
6 (usu. prec. by the) = high season.
7 the time of year regularly devoted to an activity (the football season).
8 the time of year dedicated to social life generally (went up to London for the season).
9 a period of indefinite or varying length.
10 Brit. colloq. = season ticket.
--v.
1 tr. flavour (food) with salt, herbs, etc.
2 tr. enhance with wit, excitement, etc.
3 tr. temper or moderate.
4 tr. & intr. a make or become suitable or in the desired condition, esp. by exposure to the air or weather; mature. b make or become experienced or accustomed (seasoned soldiers).
--n.
1 each of the four divisions of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) associated with a type of weather and a stage of vegetation.
2 a time of year characterized by climatic or other features (the dry season).
3 a the time of year when a plant is mature or flowering etc. b the time of year when an animal breeds or is hunted.
4 a proper or suitable time.
5 a time when something is plentiful or active or in vogue.
6 (usu. prec. by the) = high season.
7 the time of year regularly devoted to an activity (the football season).
8 the time of year dedicated to social life generally (went up to London for the season).
9 a period of indefinite or varying length.
10 Brit. colloq. = season ticket.
--v.
1 tr. flavour (food) with salt, herbs, etc.
2 tr. enhance with wit, excitement, etc.
3 tr. temper or moderate.
4 tr. & intr. a make or become suitable or in the desired condition, esp. by exposure to the air or weather; mature. b make or become experienced or accustomed (seasoned soldiers).
Idiom
in season
1 (of foodstuff) available in plenty and in good condition.
2 (of an animal) on heat.
3 timely. season ticket a ticket entitling the holder to any number of journeys, admittances, etc., in a given period.
1 (of foodstuff) available in plenty and in good condition.
2 (of an animal) on heat.
3 timely. season ticket a ticket entitling the holder to any number of journeys, admittances, etc., in a given period.
Derivative
seasoner n.
Etymology
ME f. OF seson f. L satio -onis (in Rmc sense 'seed-time') f. serere sat- sow
THESAURUS
season
abate, acclimate, acclimatize, accommodate, accustom, adapt, adjust, adjust to, age, alter, anhydrate, assuage, attain majority, available, beautify, besprinkle, blast-freeze, bloom, box in, break, break in, breathe, brew, brine, case harden, circumscribe, color, come of age, come to maturity, condition, confirm, corn, cultivate, cure, day, decoct, dehydrate, desiccate, develop, diminish, discipline, domesticate, domesticize, dredge, dry, dry-cure, dry-salt, dye, edible, elaborate, embalm, embellish, enliven, entincture, establish, evaporate, evolve, familiarize, fateful moment, finish, fit, fix, flavor, fledge, flower, freeze, freeze-dry, fume, gentle, grow, grow up, habituate, harden, hedge, hedge about, hour, housebreak, imbrue, imbue, impregnate, infiltrate, infuse, instant, instill, interval, inure, irradiate, jerk, juncture, kairos, kipper, leave the nest, leaven, limit, marinade, marinate, mature, mellow, minute, mitigate, moderate, modify, modulate, moment, moment of truth, mummify, narrow, naturalize, occasion, opportunity, orient, orientate, palliate, penetrate, pep up, pepper, perfect, period, permeate, pervade, pickle, point, polish, pregnant moment, prepare, preservatize, psychological moment, qualify, quick-freeze, reach manhood, reach twenty-one, reach voting age, ready, reduce, refine, refrigerate, regulate by, restrain, restrict, ripe, ripen, salt, saturate, sauce, savor, school, seasonable, seasoned, set conditions, set limits, settle down, smoke, smoke-cure, soften, space, span, spell, spice, stage, steel, steep, stretch, stuff, suffuse, tame, temper, term, time, time lag, tincture, tinge, toga virilis, toughen, train, transfuse, while, wontROGET THESAURUS
season
Habit
VB be wont, fall into a rut, fall into a custom, tread the beaten track, follow the beaten track, tread the beaten path, follow the beaten, stare super antiquas vias, move in a rut, run on in a groove, go round like a horse in a mill, go on in the old jog trot way, habituate, inure, harden, season, caseharden, accustom, familiarize, naturalize, acclimatize, keep one's hand in, train, get into the way, get into the knack of, learn, cling to, adhere to, repeat, acquire a habit, contract a habit, fall into a habit, acquire a trick, contract a trick, fall into a trick, addict oneself to, take to, get into, be habitual, prevail, come into use, become a habit, take root, gain upon one, grow upon one.Mixture
VB mix, join, combine, commix, immix, intermix, mix up with, mingle, commingle, intermingle, bemingle, shuffle, pound together, hash up, stir up, knead, brew, impregnate with, interlard, intertwine, interweave, associate with, miscegenate, be mixed, get among, be entangled with, instill, imbue, infuse, suffuse, transfuse, infiltrate, dash, tinge, tincture, season, sprinkle, besprinkle, attemper, medicate, blend, cross, alloy, amalgamate, compound, adulterate, sophisticate, infect.Preservation
VB preserve, maintain, keep, sustain, support, hold, keep up, keep alive, refrigerate, keep on ice, not willingly let die, bank up, nurse, save, rescue, be safe, make safe, take care of, guard, stare super antiquas vias, hold one's own, hold one's ground, stand one's ground, embalm, cure, salt, pickle, season, kyanize, bottle, pot, tin, can, sterilize, pasteurize, radiate, dry, lyophilize, freeze- dry, concentrate, evaporate, freeze, quick-freeze, deep-freeze, husband.Preparation
VB prepare, get ready, make ready, make preparations, settle preliminaries, get up, sound the note of preparation, set in order, put in order, forecast, prepare the ground, plow the ground, dress the ground, till the soil, cultivate the soil, predispose, sow the seed, lay a train, dig a mine, lay the groundwork, fix the groundwork, lay the basis, fix the basis, lay the foundations, fix the foundations, dig the foundations, erect the scaffolding, lay the first stone, roughhew, cut out work, block out, hammer out, lick into shape, elaborate, mature, ripen, mellow, season, bring to maturity, nurture, hatch, cook, brew, temper, anneal, smelt, barbecue, infumate, maturate, equip, arm, man, fit-out, fit up, furnish, rig, dress, garnish, betrim, accouter, array, fettle, fledge, dress up, furbish up, brush up, vamp up, refurbish, sharpen one's tools, trim one's foils, set, prime, attune, whet the knife, whet the sword, wind up, screw up, adjust, put in trim, put in train, put in gear, put in working order, put in tune, put in a groove for, put in harness, pack, train, inure, breed, prepare for, rehearse, make provision for, take steps, take measures, take precautions, provide, provide against, beat up for recruits, open the door to, set one's house in order, make all snug, clear the decks, clear for action, close one's ranks, shuffle the cards, prepare oneself, serve an apprenticeship, lay oneself out for, get into harness, gird up one's loins, buckle on one's armor, reculer pour mieux sauter, prime and load, shoulder arms, get the steam up, put the horses to, guard against, make sure against, forearm, make sure, prepare for the evil day, have a rod in pickle, provide against a rainy day, feather one's nest, lay in provisions, make investments, keep on foot, be prepared, be ready, hold oneself in readiness, keep one's powder dry, lie in wait for, anticipate, principiis obstare, veniente occurrere morbo.Time
N time, duration, period, term, stage, space, span, spell, season, the whole time, the whole period, space-time, course, snap, intermediate time, while, interim, interval, pendency, intervention, intermission, intermittence, interregnum, interlude, respite, era, epoch, time of life, age, year, date, decade, moment, glass of time, sands of time, march of time, Father Time, ravages of time, arrow of time, river of time, whirligig of time, noiseless foot of time, scythe, continuing, on foot, permanent, while, whilst, during, pending, during the time, during the interval, in the course of, at that point, at that point in time, for the time being, day by day, in the time of, when, meantime, meanwhile, in the meantime, in the interim, ad interim, pendente lite, de die in diem, from day to day, from hour to hour, hourly, always, for a time, for a season, till, until, up to, yet, as far as, by that time, so far, hereunto, heretofore, prior to this, up to this point, the whole time, all the time, all along, throughout, for good, hereupon, thereupon, whereupon, then, anno Domini, A, D, ante Christum, A, C, before Christ, B, C, anno urbis conditae, A, U, C, anno regni, A, R, once upon a time, one fine morning, one fine day, one day, once, time flies, tempus fugit, time runs out, time runs against, race against time, racing the clock, time marches on, time is of the essence, time and tide wait for no man, ad calendas Groecas, panting Time toileth after him in vain, 'gainst the tooth of time and razure of oblivion, rich with the spoils of time, tempus edax rerum, the long hours come and go, the time is out of joint, Time rolls his ceaseless course, Time the foe of man's dominion, time wasted is existence, used is life, truditur dies die, volat hora per orbem, carpe diem.Pungency
VB be pungent, bite the tongue, render pungent, season, spice, salt, pepper, pickle, brine, devil, smoke, chew, take snuff.Condiment
VB season, spice, flavor, spice up.Qualification
VB qualify, limit, modify, leaven, give a color to, introduce new conditions, narrow, temper, waffle, quibble, hem and haw (be uncertain), equivocate (sophistry), depend, depend on, be contingent on (effect), allow for, make allowance for, admit exceptions, take into account, modulate, moderate, temper, season, leaven, take exception.For further exploring for "season" in Webster Dictionary Online