transitive verb, intransitive verb

noun

1. the period of forty weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter, observed variously in Christian churches by fasting and penitence
2. in the Middle Ages, the period from Martinmas (November 11) to Christmas
   in full St. Martin's Lent

Etymology: ME lenten < OE lengten, the spring < Gmc *langat-tin < base of long + *tina-, day < IE base *dei-, to shine > L dies, day: from the lengthening of the days in the spring; akin to Ger lenz, spring