summer

Definition

One of four seasons, traditionally the second, marked by the longest and typically hottest days of the year due to the inclination of the Earth and thermal lag. Typically regarded as spanning either the period between the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox, or the months of June, July, and August in the Northern Hemisphere and the months of December, January and February in the Southern Hemisphere.

Etymology

From Middle English somer, sumer, from Old English sumor (“summer”), from Proto-West Germanic *sumar, from Proto-Germanic *sumaraz (“summer”), from Proto-Indo-European *sm̥-h₂-ó-, oblique of *semh₂- (“summer, year”). Cognate with Scots somer, sumer, simer (“summer”), West Frisian simmer (“summer”), Saterland Frisian Suumer (“summer”), Dutch zomer (“summer”), Low German Sommer (“summer”), German Sommer (“summer”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål sommer (“summer”), Swedish sommar (“summer”), Norwegian Nynorsk and Icelandic sumar (“summer”), Welsh haf (“summer”), Armenian ամ (am, “year”), ամառ (amaṙ, “summer”), Sanskrit समा (sámā, “a half-year, season, weather, year”), Avestan 𐬵𐬀𐬨 (ham-, “summer”), Middle Persian ḥʾmyn (hāmīn, “summer”), Northern Kurdish havîn (“summer”), Central Kurdish ھاوین (hawîn, “summer”).

Example Sentences

• "the heat of summer"
• "Gradually, the end of summer hove into sight."
• "At twilight in the summer there is never anybody to fear—man, woman, or cat—in the chambers and at that hour the mice come out. They do not eat parchment or foolscap or red tape, but they eat the luncheon crumbs."