A Session Is a Sitting
A session is a period spent on an activity. The Latin means a sitting, which is why parliaments and courts sit.
A session is a period devoted to one activity: a training session, a recording session, a court session. The Latin *sessio* means a sitting, from *sedere*, to sit, which is why English still says a court *sits* and a parliament *is in session*. The activity may involve no sitting at all.
- A period of activity. *A two-hour session.*
- A period when a body meets. *The parliamentary session.*
- A recording occasion. *Session musicians.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | session | A short session. |
| Plural | sessions | Weekly sessions. |
| Related | sit | The court sits. |
| Related | sedentary | A sedentary job. |
| Related | preside | Preside over a meeting. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The training session lasts an hour.Any bounded period of activity.
- Parliament is in session until July.The period between openings.
- He works as a session guitarist.Hired for individual recordings.
The sitting family
- Session — a sitting, hence a period of activity
- Sedentary — involving much sitting
- Reside — to sit back, hence to live somewhere
- Preside — to sit in front, hence to chair
- Sediment — what settles at the bottom
From Latin *sessionem*, a sitting, from *sedere*, to sit — one of the most productive roots in English, giving *seat*, *settle*, *siege* and *assess*.
What is a parliamentary session?
The period between one state opening and the next, usually about a year. Bills that do not pass within it normally fall.
What is a session musician?
A player hired for individual recording dates rather than being a member of the band.