Fasting period (4)
I believe the answer is:
lent
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">fasting period</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this before)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for lent that I've seen before include "Christian period of abstinence" , "Period of penance" , "Christian penitential season" , "Provided loans" , "Forty days of penance" .)