Sufficient number barely realising what follows what comes next? (4)
I believe the answer is:
lent
'sufficient number' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lent that I've seen before include "Provided loans" , "Gave the use of for a time" , "Forty days of fasting" , "days before Easter" , "Advanced" .)