<P> The English word Lent is a shortened form of the Old English word len ( c ) ten , meaning `` spring season '' , as its Dutch language cognate lente ( Old Dutch lentin ) still does today . A dated term in German , lenz ( Old High German lenzo ) , is also related . According to the Oxford English Dictionary , ' the shorter form ( ? Old Germanic type * laŋgito - , * laŋgiton - ) seems to be a derivative of * laŋgo - long ... and may possibly have reference to the lengthening of the days as characterizing the season of spring ' . The origin of the - en element is less clear : it may simply be a suffix , or lencten may originally have been a compound of * laŋgo - ' long ' and an otherwise little attested word * - tino , meaning ' day ' . </P>
<P> The English word Lent is a shortened form of the Old English word len ( c ) ten , meaning `` spring season '' , as its Dutch language cognate lente ( Old Dutch lentin ) still does today . A dated term in German , lenz ( Old High German lenzo ) , is also related . According to the Oxford English Dictionary , ' the shorter form ( ? Old Germanic type * laŋgito - , * laŋgiton - ) seems to be a derivative of * laŋgo - long ... and may possibly have reference to the lengthening of the days as characterizing the season of spring ' . The origin of the - en element is less clear : it may simply be a suffix , or lencten may originally have been a compound of * laŋgo - ' long ' and an otherwise little attested word * - tino , meaning ' day ' . </P>
what is the old english meaning of lent
what is the old english meaning of lent
`` spring season ''
`` spring season ''