SESSION • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Session

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/sˈɛʃən/ Listen

noun

Session n.

1.

The act of sitting, or the state of being seated. (Archaic) "So much his ascension into heaven and his session at the right hand of God do import." "But Viven, gathering somewhat of his mood,... Leaped from her session on his lap, and stood."

2.

The actual sitting of a court, council, legislature, etc., or the actual assembly of the members of such a body, for the transaction of business. "It's fit this royal session do proceed."

3.

Hence, also, the time, period, or term during which a court, council, legislature, etc., meets daily for business; or, the space of time between the first meeting and the prorogation or adjournment; thus, a session of Parliaments is opened with a speech from the throne, and closed by prorogation. The session of a judicial court is called a term. "It was resolved that the convocation should meet at the beginning of the next session of Parliament." Note: Sessions, in some of the States, is particularly used as a title for a court of justices, held for granting licenses to innkeepers, etc., and for laying out highways, and the like; it is also the title of several courts of criminal jurisdiction in England and the United States.

Church session, the lowest court in the Presbyterian Church, composed of the pastor and a body of elders elected by the members of a particular church, and having the care of matters pertaining to the religious interests of that church, as the admission and dismission of members, discipline, etc.

Court of Session, the supreme civil court of Scotland.

Quarter sessions. (Eng.Law) See under Quarter.

Sessions of the peace, sittings held by justices of the peace. (Eng.)

See images of 'Session'

Etymology of 'Session'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Session" Quotes from Famous Books

... in fact, delivered in the summer of 1918 at Cambridge University as part of a summer session devoted to the United States of America. It is reprinted in lecture form in order that the point of view may ...

— Definitions • Henry Seidel Canby

... in Ordinary are appointed by the monarch for life); Supreme Courts of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (comprising the Courts of Appeal, the High Courts of Justice, and the Crown Courts); Scotland's Court of Session ...

— The 2008 CIA World Factbook • United States. Central Intelligence Agency.

... The last session (1883) has opened the eyes of many to the absurdity of allowing a single member to block a bill. When it is considered that, in an assembly of six hundred, there is probably at least one man, like Fergus O'Conner, verging on insanity, ...

— Practical Essays • Alexander Bain

... I must denounce Temperance as the deadliest of sins, and proclaim Abstinence to be the only virtue. There is a grand State Convention of Progressive Gladiators at present in session in Foxden; all the neighboring towns have sent delegates. Well, it was only yesterday afternoon that Stellato, in behalf of one of the committees, denounced the clergy of New England as gross flesh-eaters who had made themselves ...

— The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 12, No. 72, October, 1863 • Various

... every night was an all-night sitting. Under the old rules of Procedure, as the Session advanced, we were kept up night after night till 5 a.m. Some Members, notably the late Henry Labouchere, took a sort of impish delight in keeping the House sitting late. Many Front-Bench men had their lives shortened by the strain ...

— The Days Before Yesterday • Lord Frederick Hamilton

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