SES'SION, n. [L. sessio, from sedeo. See Set.]

1. A sitting or being placed; as the ascension of Christ and his session at the right hand of God.

2. The actual sitting of a court, council, legislature, &c.; or the actual assembly of the members of these o rany similar body for the transaction of business. Thus we say, the court is now in session, meaning that the members are assembled for business.

3. The time, space or term during which a court, council, legislature and the like, meet for daily business; or the space of time between the first meeting and the prorogation of 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. Thus a court may have two sessions or four sessions annually. The supreme court of the United States has one anual session. The legislatures of most of the states have one anualsession only; some have more. The congress of the United States has one only.

4. Sessions, in some of the states, is particularly used for a court of justices, held for granting licenses to innkeepers or taverners, for laying out new highways or altering old ones and the like.

1. A sitting or being placed; as, the ascension of Christ and his session at the right hand of God. – Hooker.
2. The actual sitting of a court, council, legislature, &c.; or the actual assembly of the members of these or any similar body for the transaction of business. Thus we say, the court is now in session, meaning that the members are assembled for business.
3. The time, space, 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. Thus a court may have two sessions or four sessions usually. The supreme court of the United States has one annual session. The legislatures of most of the states have one annual session only; some have more. The congress of the United States has one only.
4. Sessions, in some of the states, is particularly used for court of justices, held for granting licenses to innkeepers or taverners, for laying out new highways, or altering old ones and the like. Quarter sessions, in England, is a court held once in every quarter, by two justices of the peace, one of whom is of the quorum, for the trial of small felonies and misdemeanors. Sessions of the peace, a court consisting of justices of the peace, held in each county, for inquiring into trespasses, larcenies, forestalling, &c., and in general, for the conservation of the peace. – Laws of New York.

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. Hooker.

   But Viven, gathering somewhat of his mood, . . .
   Leaped from her session on his lap, and stood. Tennyson.

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. Shak.

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. Macaulay.

   * 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.]