adj
pent
pehnt
adj
1
Shut up or confined, as if enclosed in a small pen; held back and unable to be expressed freely.
"Years of pent frustration finally spilled out during the argument."
"The dog paced the yard, clearly pent and restless."
noun
1
A state of being confined or held back; concealment.
"The prisoner's long pent left him desperate for open space."
How to Use Pent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAlmost always seen today in the compound "pent-up", describing emotions or energy that have been held in and not released.
Common mistake
On its own "pent" is rare in modern English; most readers will only recognize it as part of "pent-up".
Common pairings
pent-up anger
pent-up energy
pent-up demand
Word Forms
pents plural, pents plural, pents plural, Pents plural
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Years of _____ frustration finally spilled out during the argument.
Etymology
From "pen" (to enclose) plus the old past-tense ending "-t", the same pattern seen in words like "bent" from "bend".