Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SEA-SON, n. [se'zn; Fr. saison; Arm. sæsonn, saçzun; sazam, sezam, season, proper time, state of being seasoned; sazonar, to season, ripen, temper, sweeten, bring to maturity; Sp. sazon, season, maturity, taste, relish; sazonar, to season. The primary sense, like that of time and opportunity, is to fall, to come, to arrive, and this word seems to be allied to seize and assess; to fall on, to set on. Season literally signifies that which comes or arrives; and in this general sense, is synonymous with time. Hence,]

1. A fit or suitable time; the convenient time; the usual or appointed time; as, the messenger arrived in season; in good season. This fruit is out of season.
2. Any time, as distinguished from others. The season prime for sweetest scents and airs. – Milton.
3. A time of some continuance, but not long. Thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. – Acts xiii.
4. One of the four divisions of the year, spring, summer, autumn, winter. The season is mild; it is cold for the season. We saw, in six days' traveling, the several seasons of the year in their beauty. – Addison. We distinguish the season by prefixing its appropriate name, as the spring-season, summer-season, &c. To be in season, to be in good time, or sufficiently early for the purpose. To be out of season, to be too late, beyond the propel time, or beyond the usual or appointed time. From the sense of convenience, is derived the following.
5. That which matures or prepares for the taste; that which gives a relish. You lack the season of all nature, sleep. – Shak. But in this sense, we now use seasoning.