lange
The English phrase "a long time" is translated into Old English as lange.
lange refers to a period of time that is considered extensive or prolonged.
Did you know?
- Old English speakers used the root lang to describe something 'tall', a usage that persisted in some English dialects well into the modern era.
- The root of lange is part of a family of words that connects to the Old Norse word 'lang', showing how much English was shaped by Viking-age linguistic contact.
- The root lang is a cognate of the German word lang and the Dutch word lang, illustrating the shared Germanic heritage of these terms for duration.
Examples in context
- He æt lange wæs hēr.He was here for a long time.
Example conversation
Wulfrun and Eadric meet after several years apart.
- WulfrunEadric, ic ne seah þē lange!Eadric, I have not seen you for a long time!
- EadricGēa, hit is mænig gear.Yes, it has been many years.
- WulfrunHwǣr wæs þū lange?Where were you for a long time?
- EadricIc wæs on Northumbrialand.I was in Northumbria.
