Lenten

or lent·en

[ len-tn ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or suitable for Lent.
2. suggesting Lent, as in austerity, frugality, or rigorousness; meager.

lenten

/ ˈlɛntən /

adjective

1. often capital of or relating to Lent
2. archaic.
   spare, plain, or meagre

   lenten fare

3. archaic.
   cold, austere, or sombre

   a lenten lover

Word History and Origins

Origin of Lenten¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English lente(n) “spring, springtime, Lent,” noun use of Old English noun and adjective lengten, læncgten, lencten “spring, springtime, Lent; of springtime, Lenten”; later taken as an adjective ending in -en; Lent, -en ²

Example Sentences

One of the first tracts wholly devoted to tobacco is entitled Nash's "Lenten Stuffe."

From Project Gutenberg

Even in the present year-1913-the Lenten pastoral of one of the bishops goes back to the same old subject.

From Project Gutenberg

After the Christmas holidays the city will be gay until the Lenten season.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the method by which one fills a Lenten mitebox—it is disciplinary, that is, it is meant to hurt a little, and it does.

From Project Gutenberg

The Lenten, Easter, and Christmas songs are the greatest artistic inheritance handed down to us from the past.

From Project Gutenberg