lent

¹

[ lent ]

verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of lend.

Lent

²

[ lent ]

noun

1. (in the Christian religion) an annual season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday and lasting 40 weekdays to Easter, observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, and certain other churches.

-lent

³

1. a suffix occurring in loanwords from Latin, variant of -ulent:

   pestilent.

lent

¹

/ lɛnt /

verb

1. the past tense and past participle of lend

Lent

²

/ lɛnt /

noun

1. Christianity the period of forty weekdays lasting from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, observed as a time of penance and fasting commemorating Jesus' fasting in the wilderness
2. modifier falling within or associated with the season before Easter

   Lent observance

3. plural (at Cambridge University) Lent term boat races

Lent

1. In Christianity , a time of fasting and repentance in the spring, beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending several weeks later on Easter .

Notes

To “give something up for Lent” is to abandon a pleasurable habit as an act of devotion and self-discipline.

Other Words From

• un·lent adjective
• well-lent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lent¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English leynte, Old English læncte “spring, springtime, Lent,” literally, “lengthening (of daylight hours)”; cognate with Dutch lente(n), German Lenz “spring” (only English has the ecclesiastical sense); Lenten, long ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of lent¹

Old English lencten, lengten spring, literally: lengthening (of hours of daylight)

Example Sentences

Christian, Muslim and Buddhist devotees participate in events for the Holy month of Lent in the Philippines, the fasting month of Ramadan in Indian-controlled Kashmir and Buddha’s birthday in South Korea.

From Seattle Times

Some said they have yet to attend a crawfish boil, popular during Lent when many in the heavily Catholic south Louisiana seek alternatives to meat.

From Seattle Times

The church recognizes “ordinary time” in the liturgical calendar as the days between the holy seasons of Lent and Advent.

From Los Angeles Times

“Here we are, we’re halfway through Lent,” Mr. Stelly said, pointing out what is usually the peak time for boiling live crawfish in this heavily Catholic part of the world.

From New York Times

Someone behind the bar shouted: “I think it has something to do with Lent.”

From Seattle Times