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 (lĕnt), imp. & p. p. of Lend.

-- Webster's unabridged 1913