n. An annual fast of forty days, beginning with Ash Wednesday and continuing till Easter, observed from very early times in the Christian church, in commemoration of Christ's forty days' fast (Mat. iv. 2), and as a season of special penitence and preparation for the Easter feast.n. Preterit and past participle of lend.Slow; gentle; mild.In music, same as lento.n. A suffix in some adjectives of Latin origin, as flatulent, pestilent, pulverulent, turbulent, vinolent, violent, virulent, etc. It is not used in new English formations.