Why is the Fall or Autumn the only season with two names?

geniusonwheels

The term autumn came first. The term fall came later from old German meaning "fall from a distance" which would explain leaves. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn Sep 28 07, 1:19 PM

zbeckabee

Quote: Autumn -- English from Old French autompne "autumn", and the French got it from Latin autumnus. Autumn entered English in the 14th century and by the 16th century had supplanted the Old English form, harvest, so named for obvious reasons. Fall is a common synonym in the U.S., and it arose in the 16th century, as well. It often appeared in the form fall of the leaf, referring, of course, to the shedding of leaves by deciduous trees. It is heard less commonly in Britain today. You may not have known that, while autumn officially begins on September 21 and ends December 21, in Britain it is popularly thought of as extending from August to October, and in North America from September to November. http://www.takeourword.com/Issue068.html Sep 28 07, 1:59 PM

star_gazer

Thanks now I understand the two terms, but why don't the other three seasons have two names also? Sep 28 07, 4:22 PM

zbeckabee

Sometimes in explaining what is -- we see what is not. Or, if you'd rather: "Fall is the only season that is called by two different names. Some call it fall, after the leaves which FALL from the trees. Others prefer autumn, which is poetic-sounding. Fall is the season so nice, they named it twice!" http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/media/storage/paper660/news/2006/08/28/News/Inside.Column.An.Ode.To.Autumn-2241099.shtml Sep 28 07, 5:46 PM

davejacobs

Spring has a descriptive name that corresponds with 'fall'. Did it ever have a name (in Eglish) that corresponds with 'autumn'? Sep 29 07, 1:12 AM