mid-Lentn.
/ˌmɪdˈlɛnt/, U.S. /ˈmɪdˈlɛnt/ The middle of Lent. Also: = mid-Lent Sunday n. at Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > specific Christian festivals > mid-Lent > [noun]
midlentenOE
mid-fastenOE
mid-Lenta1450
Magnificet1841
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail lvi. 347 (MED) This thing happede In the Mydlent.
1470 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 415 I am halffe in purpose to com hom wyth-in a monythe here-afftre, or a-bowt Med-lente.
1517 R. Torkington Oldest Diarie Englysshe Trav. (1884) 1 The ffryday a for mydlent.
1527–8 in Trans. Shropshire Archaol. Soc. (1914) 4 216 The next medlent rents dew to the howse.
1667–8 J. Breton in R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. (1886) II. 706 It is possible he may be in London by Midlent.
1806 T. Harwood Hist. Lichfield 109 Called Whitsun-farthings or Pentecostals, because it was usually given on Midlent or Whitsunday.
1869 H. King Aspromonte & Other Poems 21 Then watch for one hour longer, One hour yet more intense, In this dark mid-lent season, For him who goeth hence.
1888 Cassell's Encycl. Dict. VII. at Tradition of the Creed In the Mozarabic Missal it still retains its place before the Epistle on Palm Sunday. At Rome it took place on the Wednesday in Mid-Lent.
1922 C. Mackenzie Altar Steps xxvii. 315 A set [of vestments] in old rose damask for mid-Lent.
1973 C. A. Wilson Food & Drink in Brit. vii. 268 The medieval simnel died out in the later seventeenth century, and its name was transferred to a rich fruit cake baked for mid-Lent.
Compounds
mid-Lent Sunday n. the middle or fourth Sunday in Lent; also called Laetare Sunday, Mothering Sunday, Refreshment Sunday.
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society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > specific Christian festivals > mid-Lent > [noun] > Sunday in
Sunday of RefreshmentlOE
midlenten Sunday1389
mid-Lent Sundayc1425
Phagiphanyc1450
mid-fast Sunday1480
Mothering Sunday1783
Refreshment Sunday1825
Refection Sunday1852
Laetare1870
c1425 Serm. (BL Add.) in G. Cigman Lollard Serm. (1989) 73 Whoso wole trete lenger of þis matere of eyte dayes, he mai see more herof in þe sermoun of Myd Lente Sundai.
a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1905) i. 194 Yeldyng therof yerely..The Sonday of Sexagesyme fyfty shillyngis and on mydlent Sonday fifty shillyngis.
1517 R. Torkington Oldest Diarie Englysshe Trav. (1884) 1 Midlente sonnday, the xxij Day of Marche.
1624 W. Laud Diary 7 Mar. in Hist. Troubles (1695) 10 Mid-Lent-Sunday, I Preached at White-Hall.
1712 E. Freke Diary 22 Dec. in Jrnl. Cork Hist. & Archaeol. Soc. (1913) 19 88 I engaged him to Give the sacramentt here A Midlentt Sunday.
1872 C. Hardwick Trad., Superstitions, & Folk-lore 78 Mid Lent Sunday is likewise called Braggat or Braggot Sunday, from the custom of drinking ‘mulled’ or spiced ale on that day.
1915 William & Mary Coll. Q. Hist. Mag. 24 26 Second Tripos Day is on the Thursday after Midlent Sunday. The bell begins to ring at one.
1999 C. A. Lees Trad. & Belief ii. 61 In his First Series homily for mid-Lent Sunday..Ælfric offers this brief insight into the aesthetics of his prose.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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