quadrangesimal

views updated

quadrangesimal (of a fast) lasting forty days; of Lent, Lenten. XVII. — late L. quadrāgēsimālis, f. Quadrāgēsima (Eng. Quadragesima XIV; then not before XVII), name of the first Sunday in Lent and reckoned the fortieth day before Easter, and hence of the whole season, sb. use of fem. of L. quadrāgēsimus fortieth, ordinal of quadrāgintā forty, f. quadrā-, repr. old n. of quattuor FOUR + -gintā, corr. to Gr. -konta; see -AL1.

More From encyclopedia.com