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• Lenten
  Lenten

  adjective

  of, relating to, or suitable for Lent.
• lenten
  lenten

  adjective

  (often capital) of or relating to Lent

Lenten

American  

[len-tn] / ˈlɛn tn /

Or lenten

adjective

1. of, relating to, or suitable for Lent.

2. suggesting Lent, as in austerity, frugality, or rigorousness; meager.

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lenten British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of Lenten

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; see origin at Lent, -en ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Lenten lenten

There’s something valuable in the Christian practice of letting people determine their Lenten sacrifices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026

Fasting and avoiding meat could hamper some Valentine’s plans, but religious leaders told The Times that parishioners can still celebrate the day without breaking their Lenten obligations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2024

He extended the ritual after loved ones recovered from serious illnesses, one after another, turning him into a village celebrity as the “Christ” in the Lenten reenactment of the Way of the Cross.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 6, 2023

"We should all continue praying for our Pope Francis this Lenten season. Let us include him in our prayers, as we pray for our loved ones who are sick," parish priest Reynante Tolentino said.

From Reuters ● Apr. 2, 2023

The nun’s face was blanched out like Lenten candlewax.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

In the 12th and 13th centuries, spring was called lent or lenten, while fall was called harvest.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2018

As it happens, I was already on my annual lenten social media sabbatical when The Cambridge Analytica news broke.

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2018

Last week he preached a lenten sermon at St. Stephen's Church at loth and Chestnut Sts.,

From Time Magazine Archive

The full text of the lenten service of Holy Communion with appendices for the movable verses and readings.

From Great Lent: A School of Repentance Its Meaning for Orthodox Christians by Schmemann, Alexander

In exchange for his lenten ration of bacallao, the Spaniard sends his fruits and Xeres, the Portuguese his racy port, the Italian his Florence oil and Naples maccaroni.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846 by Various