It's finally getting warm outside. We're already a few weeks into
spring
, and it's exciting. Part of that excitement is because there are so many interesting spring words.
Spring Wasn't Always Called "Spring"
Spring itself wasn't always called "spring." In fact, the earliest peoples of Britain didn't recognize this season. Early Germanic peoples in Europe divided the year into two halves: winter, when it was cold and dark, and summer, when it was not. These are, in fact, ancient words that came to English from an early Germanic language. Summer was thought to run right up until the crops were
harvested
, which was sometimes as late as November.
The Romans introduced the idea of spring (ver, in the language Latin) and autumn (autumnus) when they conquered Britain. Eventually, this new season before summer received an English name: lententide, or lenten.
Religion And Season Were Linked
Lenten is thought to come from a Germanic root word meaning "long," because the days are lengthening at this time of year. The word was then applied to the Christian church's season of 40 days of
Lent
, where people show regret and pray ahead of the holiday Easter. So, between the 10th and 14th (about A.D. 900 to 1300), the religious observance and the season were linked.
A group of colorful flowers.Zoom in
Tulips bloom near the Capitol in Washington, D.C., April 15, 2019. Photo by: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call
In the later Middle Ages, the word Lent became an exclusively religious term. So, the season needed a new name. Various candidates were tried out in the 1400s, but there was no generally accepted term. The writer Geoffrey Chaucer sometimes used vere (from the Latin word). Other writers preferred tide, or prime, because spring was the first — the prime — season.
In the period, from A.D. 1300 to 1600, the "prime" of a person's life was considered adolescence, or young adulthood. Today, we consider the "prime" of life to be quite a bit later.
Sense Of Growth And Rebirth
Springing time was another contender for a name for young adulthood — the period when buds and flowers "spring" forth. Perhaps because the sense of growth and rebirth captures what people tend to love about the season, this last name won out. Since the time of Shakespeare we've been able to say, "Spring has sprung."
Ver hasn't disappeared entirely. Our go-to adjective for spring is "." For example, a vernal pool is one that only appears in spring. March 20 is known as the vernal equinox. Some plants, such as artichokes, need to be
vernalized
, or exposed to a period of cold temperatures necessary for them to flower. Vernant is a little-used word that means blooming or growing. This is not to be confused with the word , which means "green from lush plant life." This comes from viridis, the Latin word for "green." And finally, there is "vernation," the arrangement of plant leaves in a bud. The coil of a fiddlehead fern, for example, is circinate vernation. The arrangement of petals in a flower bud is called aestivation, which comes from the Latin word for summer, aestas.
Leaves in spring; flowers in summer, in language if not always in life.
Read the paragraph from the section “Sense Of Growth And Rebirth.”
Ver hasn't disappeared entirely. Our go-to adjective for spring is "vernal." For example, a vernal pool is one that only appears in spring. March 20 is known as the vernal equinox. Some plants, such as artichokes, need to be vernalized, or exposed to a period of cold temperatures necessary for them to flower. Vernant is a little-used word that means blooming or growing. This is not to be confused with the word verdant, which means "green from lush plant life." This comes from viridis, the Latin word for "green." And finally, there is "vernation," the arrangement of plant leaves in a bud. The coil of a fiddlehead fern, for example, is circinate vernation. The arrangement of petals in a flower bud is called aestivation, which comes from the Latin word for summer, aestas.
Which of the following is an accurate explanation of what this paragraph means?
A
The Latin word for spring is used in a number of English words.
B
During the spring plants flower or bloom for the first time since the winter.
C
The Latin word for spring is used to name and describe many different plants.
D
During the Middle Ages, the Latin word for spring was used instead of the religious word Lent.
A
The Latin word for spring is used in a number of English words.
Read the section "Religion And Season Were Linked."
Which sentence from the section shows why the name Lent was used as a name for spring?
A
Lenten is thought to come from a Germanic root word meaning "long," because the days are lengthening at this time of year.
B
The word was then applied to the Christian church's season of 40 days of Lent, where people show regret and pray ahead of the holiday Easter.
C
In the later Middle Ages, the word Lent became an exclusively religious term.
D
Other writers preferred prime tide, or prime, because spring was the first — the prime — season.
B
The word was then applied to the Christian church's season of 40 days of Lent, where people show regret and pray ahead of the holiday Easter.
are you sure
I apologize for the confusion. The correct sentence is:
A
Lenten is thought to come from a Germanic root word meaning "long," because the days are lengthening at this time of year.
how
The sentence "Lenten is thought to come from a Germanic root word meaning 'long,' because the days are lengthening at this time of year" explains why the name Lent, initially a religious term, was used to describe the season of spring. The word "spring" also signifies a period where days are lengthening, linking it to the concept of Lent and its association with the Christian church season of fasting and prayer before Easter.
What is the relationship between the earliest British people and the seasons?
A
The earliest British people named each season for the crops.
B
The earliest British people celebrated the Christian season of Lent.
C
The earliest British people observed the season of prime tide.
D
The earliest British people only divided the year into two seasons.
D
The earliest British people only divided the year into two seasons.