trental: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very rare / ObsoleteEcclesiastical / Historical / Literary
Quick answer
What does “trental” mean?
A series of thirty masses for a deceased person, especially said on thirty consecutive days.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A series of thirty masses for a deceased person, especially said on thirty consecutive days.
Historically, in Roman Catholic tradition, a set of thirty requiem masses celebrated over consecutive days for the repose of a soul. By extension, can refer to any cycle of thirty prayers or observances.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant contemporary regional differences, as the term is archaic. May appear slightly more often in British historical texts due to the UK's longer Catholic medieval history.
Connotations
Historical, liturgical, specific to pre-Reformation or traditional Catholic practice.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects. Likely only encountered in specialized academic or religious historical writing.
Grammar
How to Use “trental” in a Sentence
[Institution/Person] endowed/founded/ordered a trental for [deceased person]A trental was said for the repose of [possessive pronoun] soul.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “trental” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The medieval will provided funds for a trental to be said annually.
- The concept of the trental is discussed in Duffy's 'The Stripping of the Altars'.
American English
- His research focused on trental foundations in late medieval England.
- The chantry priest's duty included singing the trental.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, religious studies, or theological papers discussing medieval death culture and intercessory practices.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Used precisely in historical liturgy to denote the specific practice of thirty consecutive masses.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “trental”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “trental”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “trental”
- Using it to mean a period of thirty days in a non-religious context.
- Misspelling as 'trentle' or 'trentel'.
- Pronouncing the 't' in 'tal' as a hard /t/ rather than a /əl/ sound.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term primarily found in historical texts and academic discussions of medieval religion.
In its original, strict sense, no. It specifically refers to thirty masses. However, by very loose analogy in literary contexts, it might be extended, but this is highly uncommon.
It comes from Medieval Latin 'trentale', from Latin 'triginta' meaning 'thirty'.
They are related concepts of series of masses for the dead, but a 'Gregorian Mass' traditionally refers to thirty consecutive masses as well, following a specific tradition. The terms can overlap, but 'trental' is the older, more general term for the thirty-mass cycle.
A series of thirty masses for a deceased person, especially said on thirty consecutive days.
Trental is usually ecclesiastical / historical / literary in register.
Trental: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtrɛnt(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtrɛntəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'TRENT' (as in the Council of Trent, a key Catholic council) plus '-AL' (meaning 'related to'). A 'Trental' is a Catholic-related practice of thirty masses.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CYCLE OF PURIFICATION (The thirty-day cycle purifies and aids the soul's journey).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'trental'?