/ad"vent/ , n.
1. a coming into place, view, or being; arrival: the advent of the holiday season.
2. ( usually cap. ) the coming of Christ into the world.
3. ( cap. ) the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas, observed in commemoration of the coming of Christ into the world.
4. ( usually cap. ) See Second Coming .
[ 1125-75; ME adventus arrival, approach, equiv. to ad- AD- + ven- (s. of venire to come) + -tus suffix of verbal action ]
Syn. 1. onset, beginning, commencement, start.