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 (l&ebreve;nt), imp. & p. p. of Lend.
Hear it pronounced