lencten

Lencten is an Old English term that designates the season of spring in Anglo-Saxon England. The word literally means the lengthening of days, a reference to longer daylight as winter gives way to spring.

Etymology and sense: Lencten derives from an Old English word meaning “lengthening,” used to name the season rather than a fixed calendar interval. In many medieval sources the span associated with lencten roughly corresponds to late February through early April, though regional variations existed. The term is linguistically connected to the later English word Lent, but in early use lencten most often referred to the season of spring rather than the religious observance.

Usage and context: Lencten appears in Old English poetry and prose to evoke renewal, growth, and agricultural activity. It frequently occurs in descriptions of the natural world, as well as in calendars and homilies that align seasonal events with pastoral and religious life. Because the Christian season of Lent often coincided with spring, some medieval texts use lenctentid or lencten-tide in reference to Lent, illustrating the overlap between agricultural cycles and religious practice.

Modern status: Today lencten is an archaism found mainly in the study of Old English language and literature. It appears in scholarly editions, translations, and discussions of medieval culture, sometimes used for literary or historical flavor and occasionally referenced in discussions of place names or historical fiction.

See also: Lent, Lent (Christian season), Old English language, Beowulf, Anglo-Saxon calendar.