Pronunciation: [lˈɛnt] (IPA) 
The word "lent" can be a bit tricky to spell because it contains a silent letter. In IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), the pronunciation of "lent" is /lɛnt/. The "e" in the middle of the word is also pronounced as a short "eh" sound. The silent letter in this word is the "t" at the end. While it may be tempting to spell it with a "d" instead, it is important to remember that the correct spelling is "lent".
Lent, as a verb, refers to the act of giving up or abstaining from certain worldly pleasures, particularly of a material or personal nature, as a religious observance. It is commonly associated with the Christian tradition, specifically the season of Lent, which is observed for 40 days preceding Easter. During this period, believers often undertake acts of penance, self-reflection, and self-denial as a way to prepare themselves spiritually for the celebration of Easter.
However, the term "lent" can also be used in a broader context, outside of religious observance. In a general sense, it refers to the act of providing or loaning something to someone for a specified period. It typically involves giving temporary possession of an object, sum of money, or property under an agreement between the lender and the borrower. The borrower is expected to return the lent item or repay the borrowed amount within the agreed terms and conditions.
In summary, "lent" can be defined as the act of giving up certain indulgences during the Christian observance of Lent, or more generally, the act of providing temporary possession or loaning something to another person.
• Did lend.
• Of lend, which see.
• The fast of forty days, beginning at Ash Wednesday and extending to the day before Easter Sunday, a period really comprising six weeks and four days, but reduced exactly to forty days by omitting the intervening Sundays.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "lent" can be traced back to the Old English word "lencten", which originally referred to the spring season. This term is related to the Old High German word "lenzin" and Old Norse word "langtíð". Over time, the word "lent" came to have a more specific meaning associated with the Christian religious observance. It was used to denote the period of 40 days before Easter, starting on Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday, symbolizing the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness. The word "lent" ultimately derives from the Proto-Germanic word *"langatīnaz", meaning "long day".
