Great Lent

proper noun

In Eastern Christianity, the period of fasting before Pascha.

Similar
Great Fast
OriginMedieval Greek Μεγάλη Νηστεία →
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. ChristianityIn Eastern Christianity, the period of fasting before Pascha.

    Synonyms: Great Fast

Synonyms & antonyms

proper nounIn Eastern Christianity, the period of fasting before Pascha.

Similar
Great Fast
Also see
great fastlent

Origin

  1. Medieval GreekΜεγάλη Νηστεία
  2. EnglishGreat Lent

A calque from a language with traditional Orthodox practice, where this fast is called "great" to distinguish it from the Advent and Dormition fasts, likely a calque of Medieval Greek Μεγάλη Νηστεία (Megálē Nēsteía).

More words from Medieval Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French Grand Carême
  • Grand CarêmeGreat Lent
German große Fastenzeit, Große Fastenzeit
  • große FastenzeitGreat Lent
  • Große FastenzeitGreat Lent
Greek Μεγάλη Νηστεία
  • Μεγάλη Νηστεία (Megáli Nisteía)Great Lent
Russian Вели́кий по́ст
  • Вели́кий по́ст (Velíkij póst)Great Lent
Slovak Veľký pôst
  • Veľký pôstGreat Lent
Spanish Gran Cuaresma
  • Gran CuaresmaGreat Lent
Ukrainian Вели́кий піст
  • Вели́кий піст (Velýkyj pist)Great Lent
Cite this entry
APA

Great Lent. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Great%20Lent

MLA

“Great Lent.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Great%20Lent. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Great Lent,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Great%20Lent.

Source: Great Lent on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.