séance
Americannoun
-
a meeting in which a spiritualist attempts to communicate with the spirits of the dead.
-
a session or sitting, as of a class or organization.
noun
-
a meeting at which spiritualists attempt to receive messages from the spirits of the dead
-
a meeting of a society
Spelling
See resume 2.
Etymology
Origin of séance
1795–1805; < French: session, equivalent to sé-, base of seoir to sit 1 (< Latin sedēre ) + -ance -ance
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For in a few weeks between May and June of 1848, the Fox sisters—Leah, Maggie, and Kate—developed what we now call the séance.
From Literature
As the séance began, Capron asked the spirit if it would “rap my age.”
From Literature
They held hands and proceeded with the séance.
From Literature
His guests insisted on attending a Fox séance.
From Literature
To his shock, Kate winked back, then composed her face and began the séance.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
