-io

an action, process, or result

Forms

-io
-ion- — The longer form used before Latin endings.
-ion — The form carried into many English nouns.

Origin

An old Latin noun ending, inherited from earlier Indo-European word formation.

Note

The ending can name both an activity and what that activity produces.

336 / 371

noun

session

SESH-uhn/ˈseʃn/

A continuous period devoted to an activity.

The group devotes the practice session to playing music together.

A mixed-age small group gathers for a music practice session, instruments and wall clock, focused shared activity.

Etymology

sessLatinsit

+ionLatinan action, process, or result

A session was an act of sitting, especially a court's sitting to conduct business. The meaning broadened from an official meeting to a period devoted to an activity.

In context

City of Santa Rosa, California2:36

We will begin our meeting today with item 2.1, which is closed session. Madam City Clerk, may you please open the public comment?

City of Santa Rosa Council Meeting January 24, 2023

More examples

We take a short break between study sessions.
The band records three songs during one studio session.
Your online session ends after ten minutes of inactivity.

Forms

session · sessions

Similar words

stint: Often emphasizes time spent doing a job or duty.
period: Names any span of time, not necessarily devoted to an activity.