lent
/lent/
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Definition
- Proper noun:
- A Christian period of fasting and penitence: "Lent" is the 40-day period (excluding Sundays) observed by many Christian denominations, beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. It commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness.
Examples of Usage
- Proper noun:
- Many Christians give up a luxury, like chocolate, for Lent.
- The church holds special services throughout Lent.
- Lent is a time for reflection and spiritual growth.
Advanced Usage
"to observe Lent": to participate in the Lenten period by following its traditions of fasting, prayer, and penitence.
- She observes Lent by attending daily mass and abstaining from meat.
"Lenten sacrifice": something, often a pleasure or habit, that one gives up for the duration of Lent.
- His Lenten sacrifice this year is social media.
Variants and Related Words
- Lenten (adjective): of, relating to, or suitable for Lent.
- The priest gave a Lenten sermon about forgiveness.
- They ate a simple, Lenten meal of soup and bread.
Synonyms
- Fast: a period of abstaining from food or certain kinds of food, often for religious reasons. (Note: A "fast" can be of any duration, while "Lent" is a specific, named period.)
- Penitential season: a time for expressing sorrow for sin. (This is a descriptive phrase for Lent.)
Related Phrases
- Ash Wednesday: the first day of Lent.
- Holy Week: the final week of Lent, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Holy Saturday.
- Easter: the Christian festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, which follows Lent.
Notes on Different Meanings
- The word 'lent' (with a lowercase 'l') is the simple past tense and past participle of the verb 'to lend' (meaning to grant the use of something temporarily). It is a completely different word from the proper noun 'Lent'.
- I lent my book to a friend. (Here, 'lent' is a verb form).
- I reflected on my life during Lent. (Here, 'Lent' is a proper noun).
Noun
- a period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday