autumn
autumn
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "autumn" is /ˈɔːtəm/.
First Syllable (/ˈɔː/):
/ɔː/ - as in "caught" or "thought"
Second Syllable (/təm/):
/t/ - as in "top" or "stop"
/ə/ - as in "sofa" (schwa sound)
/m/ - as in "map" or "him"
Word Form Variations
Singular: autumn
Plural: autumns (less commonly used than "autumn" to refer to multiple fall seasons, but grammatically correct)
Adjective: autumnal (e.g., "autumnal colors")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The third season of the year, falling between summer and winter, typically observed in the Northern Hemisphere from September to November and characterized by the gradual decrease of daylight hours, falling leaves, and cooler temperatures.
Synonyms: fall, harvest
Antonyms: spring, summer, winter
Definition 2: A period or stage of life or development characterized by maturity, decline, or a sense of winding down, often following a vibrant or productive phase.
Synonyms: decline, wane, twilight, latter part
Antonyms: prime, peak, dawn, spring (of life)
Examples of Use
Books:
"Anne revelled in the world of colour about her. 'Oh, Marilla,' she exclaimed one Saturday morning, 'it's such a lovely day! The autumn always makes me feel so poetic.'" (L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables)
"In the deep autumn, the trees along the river began to turn, their leaves a riot of golds, oranges, and reds against the ever-present green of the pines." (As cited in a literary analysis of descriptive writing)
Newspapers:
"Forecasters predict a mild start to autumn, with temperatures remaining above average through September." (The Guardian, September 2, 2024)
"Local farmers are reporting an excellent harvest this autumn, with bumper crops of corn and soybeans." (The Des Moines Register, October 15, 2023)
Online Publications:
"Five cozy recipes to get you through the crisp autumn evenings." (Bon Appétit online, September 20, 2023)
"The best hiking trails to experience the stunning autumnal foliage in New England." (National Geographic Travel online, October 5, 2024)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The film opens with a sweeping shot of a quiet town during an idyllic autumn, setting a nostalgic tone." (Film review of Autumn in New York)
Music: "The song's melancholic melody perfectly captures the feeling of a fading autumn day." (Review of Taylor Swift's "All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version)")
Television: "In the latest episode, the characters prepare for the annual autumn festival, a tradition that brings the whole village together." (Plot summary of a rural drama series)
Video Games: "Players can observe the environment change from lush summer to vibrant autumn as they progress through the levels." (Description of game mechanics in Red Dead Redemption 2)
General Public Discourse:
"I love a good long walk in the autumn, when the leaves are crunching underfoot." (Casual conversation among friends)
"Are you planning to put out your autumn decorations soon?" (Neighbor to neighbor)
"This is my favorite time of year; I just love everything about autumn." (Social media post)
10 Famous Quotes Using Autumn
"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the autumn." (F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby)
"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." (Emily Brontë, Fall, leaves, fall)
"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face." (John Donne, Elegies: To His Mistress Going to Bed)
"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." (George Eliot, Adam Bede)
"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be dreadful if there weren't." (L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables - This quote, while not directly using "autumn," strongly evokes the season and is widely associated with its spirit.)
"The mornings are crisp, the leaves are turning, and there’s a distinct smell of woodsmoke in the air. Yes, it’s autumn at last." (Attributed to various sources, often found in seasonal reflections)
"Of all the seasons, autumn offers the most to man and requires the least of him." (Hal Borland, Beyond Your Doorstep)
"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." (Albert Camus, Notebooks 1935-1942)
"And all at once, summer collapsed into autumn." (Oscar Wilde, often attributed though direct source is debated, encapsulates the seasonal shift)
"The wind that makes music in November trees is the same wind that rustles through the dry grass in August. It is a part of the cycle, and it is beautiful because it brings with it the promise of autumn's embrace." (Lesser-known, but often quoted in discussions of cyclical change)
Etymology
The word "autumn" has a rich history that stretches back quite a long way!
Before "autumn" became widely used, the season between summer and winter in English was usually called "harvest." This makes a lot of sense, as it was the time when people gathered crops for the colder months. "Harvest" comes from an Old English word, "hærfest," which has Germanic roots and meant something like "picking" or "reaping."
Then, around the late 1300s, the word "autumn" started appearing in English. It came to English through French, from the Old French word "autompne," which itself came from the Latin word "autumnus."
The deeper origin of the Latin "autumnus" is a bit mysterious, but some scholars think it might be linked to an ancient Etruscan word "autu," which referred to "the passing of the year" or "the drying season." This suggests an early understanding of autumn as a time of transition and decline in the natural world.
So, while "harvest" was a very practical name for the season, "autumn" brought a more formal and perhaps poetic feel, reflecting the broader changes in nature. For a while, both "autumn" and "harvest" (and later "fall," a separate story!) were used, but "autumn" eventually became the more common and accepted term in British English.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Autumn
Autumn years: Refers to old age or the later stage of life.
Autumn of one's life: Similar to "autumn years," denoting the period of old age.
Autumn colors/colours: Describes the vibrant red, orange, and yellow hues of leaves in fall.
Autumn harvest: Refers to the crops gathered in the fall season.
Indian Summer: A period of unseasonably warm, dry weather occurring in late autumn, often after a period of cold.
To turn a new leaf: (Idiom using a concept strongly associated with autumn) To make a fresh start or change one's behavior for the better.
Falling leaves of change: (Lesser-known/original, playing on the visual of autumn) Signifies a period of transition or significant shifts.
The crispness of autumn: Describes the characteristic cool, clear air of the season.
A breath of autumn air: (Original phrase) Something refreshing and invigorating, like the first cool air of fall.
As sure as leaves in fall: (Original, using a synonym) Implies certainty, as the falling of leaves in autumn is inevitable.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of autumn from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
