Advent

noun

Ad·vent | \ ˈad-ˌvent

, chiefly British -vənt \

Definition of Advent

1 : the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting

2a : the coming of Christ at the Incarnation (see incarnation sense 3b(1))

b : second coming

3 not capitalized : a coming into being or use the advent of spring the advent of pasteurization the advent of personal computers

Synonyms & Antonyms Phrases Containing Advent Learn More About Advent

History and Etymology for Advent

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin adventus, going back to Latin, "arrival, appearance," from adven-, variant stem of advenīre "to arrive" (from ad- ad- + venīre "to come," going back to Indo-European *g^wem-i̯e-) + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at come entry 1