Slow time of abstinence before Easter egg (5)
I believe the answer is:
lento
'slow' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'time of abstinence before easter egg' is the wordplay.
'time of abstinence before easter' becomes 'lent' (Lent is a period of fasting or abstinence).
'egg' becomes 'o' (an 'o' resembles an egg).
'lent'+'o'='LENTO'
(Other definitions for lento that I've seen before include "Scored slowly" , "Slow musically" , "How one scores slowly" , "(Of tempo) slow" , "Instruction to players" .)