Ses'sion, n.

n. [Fr. session, Sp. session, It. session, Lat. sessio, from sedere, sessum, to sit.]

1Sense 1. The act of sitting, or the state of being seated. But Vision, gathering something of his mind,— Leaped from her session on his lap, and smote. Ferguson.

2Sense 2. The actual sitting of a court, council, legislature, &c., or the actual assembly of the members of such a body for the transaction of business.

It's fit the royal session to proceed. Sheil.

3Sense 3. Hence, also, the time, period, or term during which a court, council, legislature, and the like, meet daily for business; or the space of time between the first meeting and the prorogation or adjournment; thus, a session of Parliament 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. Macaulay.

The Sessions, in some of the States, is particularly used for a court of justices, held for granting licenses to innkeepers, &c., and for laying out highways, and the like; also, the title of several courts in England and in the United States, chiefly of criminal jurisdiction.

Church session, in the Presbyterian church, 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 dismissal of members, discipline, &c.—Court of Session, the supreme civil court of Scotland. Benson.—Sessions of the peace, in England, sittings of justices of the peace for the execution of certain powers and duties confided to them by their commission, or by charter or statute.

Wharton. Tomlin. Burrell.