séance

noun

sé·​ance ˈsā-ˌän(t)s 

-ˌäⁿs,

sā-ˈän(t)s,

-ˈäⁿs

1

: session, sitting

2

: a spiritualist meeting to receive spirit communications

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from seoir to sit, assemble, from Old French, from Latin sedēre — more at sit

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

séance

noun

sé·​ance ˈsā-ˌän(t)s 

1

: a meeting for discussion : session

2

: a meeting to receive the communications of spirits