That time of year when summer becomes slightly drier, and the breeze brushing past you begins to give you chills. When you’re warm enough to wear your shorts, but still carry around a cosy hoodie. Or when the sun shining through the window heats your skin but the wind starts to whistle through the cracks. If you’re like me, you were probably not aware of the fact that there was a word for this time of year, but there is. The word is serotinal.
Serotinal is used in relation to the latter and usually drier part of summer. It’s derived from the Latin word sērōtinus meaning “late of time.” Although the first known use of the word dates back to 1898, the word has more recently been employed by botanists to describe the life-histories of freshwater organisms during the late-summer season.
With autumn fast approaching and our cosy sweaters coming out, feel free to use this word to reminisce about the serotinal nights that passed us not too long ago.
Featured Image: Pixabay