Motive to get fresh start in spring, say (6)

I believe the answer is:

season

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'spring say' is the definition.
(spring is a season)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for season that I've seen before include "Salt, maybe" , "Eg, summer" , "eg Winter" , "Particular time (for activity, conditions etc)" , "Spring, say" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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