Seasons

sea·son  (szn)

n.

1.

a. One of the four natural divisions of the year, spring, summer, fall, and winter, in the North and South Temperate zones. Each season, beginning astronomically at an equinox or solstice, is characterized by specific meteorological or climatic conditions.

b. The two divisions of the year, rainy and dry, in some tropical regions.

2. A recurrent period characterized by certain occurrences, occupations, festivities, or crops: the holiday season; tomato season.

3. A suitable, natural, or convenient time: a season for merriment.

4. A period of time: gone for a season.

v. sea·soned, sea·son·ing, sea·sons

v.tr.

1. To improve or enhance the flavor of (food) by adding salt, spices, herbs, or other flavorings.

2. To add zest, piquancy, or interest to: seasoned the lecture with jokes.

3. To treat or dry (lumber, for example) until ready for use; cure.

4. To render competent through trial and experience: a lawyer who had been seasoned by years in the trial courts.

5. To accustom or inure; harden: troops who had been seasoned in combat. See Synonyms at harden.

6. To moderate; temper.

v.intr.

To become usable, competent, or tempered.

Idioms:

in season

1. Available or ready for eating or other use.

2. Legally permitted to be caught or hunted during a specified period.

3. At the right moment; opportunely.

4. In heat. Used of animals.

out of season

1. Not available, permitted, or ready to be eaten, caught, or hunted.

2. Not at the right or proper moment; inopportunely.

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[Middle English, from Old French seison, from Latin sati, satin-, act of sowing, from satus, past participle of serere, to plant; see s- in Indo-European roots.]

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Seasons 

1. August steamed in like the first slow day of creation —Shelby Hearon
2. The autumnal radiance fluttered like a blown shawl over the changeless structure of the landscape —Ellen Glasgow
3. Autumn felt as dark with life as spring —M. J. Farrell
4. The autumn frosts will lie upon the grass like bloom on grapes of purple-brown and gold —Elinor Wylie
5. In the spring … life, like the landscape around us, seems bigger and wider and freer, a rainbow road leading to unknown ends —Jerome K. Jerome
6. The long gray winter settles in like a wolf feeding on a carcass —Marge Piercy
7. March … comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb —John Ray’s Proverbs

   See Also: ENTRANCES/EXITS

8. Now that it’s spring and the blossoms fall like sighs —Louis MacNeice
9. October had come in like a lamb chop, breaded in golden crumbs and gently sautéed in a splash of blue oil —Tom Robbins
10. October morning … sallow as a faded suntan —Jessamyn West
11. One of those honey-warm fall days that brought out summer habits like chilled bees —Hortense Calisher
12. The seasons shine like new coins —George Garrett

    See Also: SHINING

13. Sleepy winter, like the sleep of death —Elinor Wylie
14. The specter of winter hovering like a pale-winged bird —W. P. Kinsella
15. Spring, animating and affecting us all … like a drug, a pleasant poison of annual mortal gaiety —Janet Flanner
16. Spring arose on the garden fair, like the spirit of love felt everywhere —Percy Bysshe Shelley
17. Spring comes like a life raft —George Starbuck
18. Spring sunlight flowed in the streets like good news —William H. Hallhan

    See Also: SUN

19. Spring came that year like a triumph and like a prophecy —Thomas Wolfe
20. Summer … dropping from the sky like a blanket of steam —John Rechy
21. Summer is like a fat beast —Wallace Stevens
22. Winter came down like a hammer —Lawrence Durrell
23. Winter [in Madison Square] … was tamed, like a polar bear led on a leash by a beautiful lady —Willa Cather