If you’re not late for something, you could say that you’re in good season. This phrase, which shows up in Noah Webster’s dictionaries from the 1820s, derives from the agricultural state of fruits and vegetables being in season. Instead of referring to a specific moment, in good season means you’re in the ballpark of good timing. This is part of a complete episode.
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βIn good seasonβ is my favorite new phrase. I’m an Episcopal parish priest in Alaska who cut my teeth on Greek back in 1982 in Texas. The congregation that I currently serve includes more than one person who functions on what we call βorganic time.β When asked what we mean by this term, I confess to talking well past the due season for stoppingΓ’β¬βand my explanation always begins with the distinction that Greek affords between ΓΒΊΓΒ±ΓΒΉΓΒΓΒΏs and Γβ‘ΓΒΓΒΏΓΒ½ΓΒΏs. βIn good seasonβ somehow captures both βorganicβ and βΓΒΊΓΒ±ΓΒΉΓΒΓΒΏsβ in a way that feels like a balm on Γβ‘ΓΒΓΒΏΓΒ½ΓΒΏs-driven days. Thank you for this addition to my lexicon, and for your ongoing work.