Lent, a. [L. lentus; akin to
lenis soft, mild: cf. F. lent. See Lenient.]
1. Slow; mild; gentle; as, lenter
heats. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
2. (Mus.) See Lento.
Lent, n. [OE. lente,
lenten, leynte, AS. lengten, lencten,
spring, lent, akin to D. lente, OHG. lenzin,
langiz, G. lenz, and perh. fr. AS. lang long, E.
long, because at this season of the year the days lengthen.]
(Eccl.) A fast of forty days, beginning with Ash
Wednesday and continuing till Easter, observed by some Christian
churches as commemorative of the fast of our Savior.
Lent lily (Bot.), the daffodil; -- so
named from its blossoming in spring.
Lent (lĕnt), imp. & p. p.
of Lend.