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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

In the seventh century, the Catholic Church enforced strict Lenten rules, prohibiting the consumption of all meat, dairy, and eggs throughout the fasting season.

From Salon ● Apr. 28, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026

That didn’t include the readers who reached out to me after I wrote a column about Mami’s capirotada — Mexican Lenten bread pudding.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2024

Last week, Francis coughed repeatedly during Ash Wednesday services that he presided over at a Roman church, and opted not to participate in the traditional procession that inaugurates the church’s Lenten season.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 28, 2024

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

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

We were observing a protracted lenten season, a more rigorous fast than any Church prescribes.

From The Siege of Kimberley by T. Phelan