AUTUMN

AUTUMN, autumnus, the third season of the year; being that wherein the harvest, and the fruits of the summer are gathered. See SEASON, YEAR, etc. Autumn begins on the day when the sun’s meridian distance from the zenith, being on the decrease, is a mean between the greatest and least; which happens when the sun enters Libra. Its end coincides with the beginning of winter. See WINTER, etc. Some derive the word from αὐξάνω, I increase, quod annum fructibus augeat.



Divers nations computed the years by autumns; the English-Saxons, by winters.—Tacitus tells us, the ancient Germans were acquainted with all the other seasons of the year, but had no notion of autumn. Linwood observes of the beginning of the several seasons of the year, that"Dat Clemens hyemem, dat Petrus ver cathedratus;Aestuat Urbanus, autumnat Bartholomaeus."Autumn, in alchemy, the time or season when the operation of the philosopher’s stone is brought to maturity and perfection. See ALCHEMY and PHILOSOPHER’S STONE.

AUTUMN