a short, simple melody, esp. one characterized by single notes to which an indefinite number of syllables are intoned, used in singing psalms, canticles, etc., in church services.
2.
a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.
3.
the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.
4.
any monotonous song.
5.
a song; singing: the chant of a bird.
6.
a monotonous intonation of the voice in speaking.
7.
a phrase, slogan, or the like, repeated rhythmically and insistently, as by a crowd.
–verb (used with object)
8.
to sing to a chant, or in the manner of a chant, esp. in a church service.
9.
to sing.
10.
to celebrate in song.
11.
to repeat (a phrase, slogan, etc.) rhythmically and insistently.
–verb (used without object)
12.
to sing.
13.
to utter a chant.
[Origin: 1350–1400; (v.) ME chanten < MF chanter < L cantāre, freq. of canere to sing; (n.) < F chant < L cantus; see canto]
A short, simple series of syllables or words that are sung on or intoned to the same note or a limited range of notes.
A canticle or prayer sung or intoned in this manner.
A song or melody.
A monotonous rhythmic call or shout, as of a slogan: the chant of the crowd at the rally.
v.
chant·ed, chant·ing, chants
v.
tr.
To sing or intone to a chant: chant a prayer.
To celebrate in song: chanting a hero's deeds.
To say in the manner of a chant: chanted defiant slogans.
v.
intr.
To sing, especially in the manner of a chant: chanted while a friend jumped rope.
To speak monotonously.
[Probably from French, song, from Old French, from Latin cantus, from past participle of canere, to sing. V., from Middle English chaunten, to sing, from Old French chanter, from Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere; see kan- in Indo-European roots.]
c.1386, from O.Fr. chanter, from L. cantare, freq. of canere "sing," from PIE base *kan- "to sing" (cf. Gk. eikanos "cock," O.E. hana "cock," both lit. "bird who sings for sunrise;" O.Ir. caniaid "sings," Welsh canu "sing"). The frequentative quality of the word was no longer felt in L., and by the time Fr. emerged the word had entirely displaced canere.
Cant\, n. [Prob. from OF. cant, F. chant, singing, in allusion to the singing or whining tine of voice used by beggars, fr. L. cantus. See Chant.]1. An affected, singsong mode of speaking. 2. The idioms and peculiarities of speech in any sect, class, or occupation. --Goldsmith. The cant of any profession. --Dryden. 3. The use of religious phraseology without understanding or sincerity; empty, solemn speech, implying what is not felt; hypocrisy. They shall hear no cant from me. --F. W. Robertson 4. Vulgar jargon; slang; the secret language spoker by gipsies, thieves, tramps, or beggars.
Can"ti*cle\, n.; pl. Canticles. [L. canticulum a little song, dim. of canticum song, fr. cantus a singing, fr. coner to sing. See Chant.]1. A song; esp. a little song or hymn. [Obs.] --Bacon. 2. pl. The Song of Songs or Song of Solomon, one of the books of the Old Testament. 3. A canto or division of a poem [Obs.] --Spenser. 4. A psalm, hymn, or passage from the Bible, arranged for chanting in church service.
Can"to\, n.; pl. Cantos. [It. canto, fr. L. cantus singing, song. See Chant.]1. One of the chief divisions of a long poem; a book. 2. (Mus.) The highest vocal part; the air or melody in choral music; anciently the tenor, now the soprano. Canto fermo[It.] (Mus.), the plain ecclesiastical chant in cathedral service; the plain song.
Can*zo"ne\, n. [It., a song, fr. L. cantio, fr. canere to sing. Cf. Chanson, Chant.] (Mus.) (a) A song or air for one or more voices, of Proven[,c]al origin, resembling, though not strictly, the madrigal. (b) An instrumental piece in the madrigal style.
Chant\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Chanting.] [F. chanter, fr. L. cantare, intens. of canere to sing. Cf. Cant affected speaking, and see Hen.]1. To utter with a melodious voice; to sing. The cheerful birds . . . do chant sweet music. --Spenser. 2. To celebrate in song. The poets chant in the theaters. --Bramhall. 3. (Mus.) To sing or recite after the manner of a chant, or to a tune called a chant.
Chant\, v. i. 1. To make melody with the voice; to sing. "Chant to the sound of the viol." --Amos vi. 5. 2. (Mus.) To sing, as in reciting a chant. To chant (or chaunt)horses, to sing their praise; to overpraise; to cheat in selling. See Chaunter. --Thackeray.
Chant\, n.[F. chant, fr. L. cantus singing, song, fr. canere to sing. See Chant, v. t.]1. Song; melody. 2. (Mus.) A short and simple melody, divided into two parts by double bars, to which unmetrical psalms, etc., are sung or recited. It is the most ancient form of choral music. 3. A psalm, etc., arranged for chanting. 4. Twang; manner of speaking; a canting tone. [R.] His strange face, his strange chant. --Macaulay. Ambrosian chant, See under Ambrosian. Chant royal [F.], in old French poetry, a poem containing five strophes of eleven lines each, and a concluding stanza. -- each of these six parts ending with a common refrain. Gregorian chant. See under Gregorian.
Chant\, n.[F. chant, fr. L. cantus singing, song, fr. canere to sing. See Chant, v. t.]1. Song; melody. 2. (Mus.) A short and simple melody, divided into two parts by double bars, to which unmetrical psalms, etc., are sung or recited. It is the most ancient form of choral music. 3. A psalm, etc., arranged for chanting. 4. Twang; manner of speaking; a canting tone. [R.] His strange face, his strange chant. --Macaulay. Ambrosian chant, See under Ambrosian. Chant royal [F.], in old French poetry, a poem containing five strophes of eleven lines each, and a concluding stanza. -- each of these six parts ending with a common refrain. Gregorian chant. See under Gregorian.
Chan"ti*cleer\ (ch[a^]n"t[i^]*kl[=e]r), n. [F. Chanteclair, name of the cock in the Roman du Renart (Reynard the Fox); chanter to chant + clair clear. See Chant, and Clear.] A cock, so called from the clearness or loudness of his voice in crowing.
Des"cant\ (d[e^]s"k[a^]nt), n. [OF. descant, deschant, F. d['e]chant, discant, LL. discantus, fr. L. dis + cantus singing, melody, fr. canere to sing. See Chant, and cf. Descant, v. i., Discant.]1. (Mus.) (a) Originally, a double song; a melody or counterpoint sung above the plain song of the tenor; a variation of an air; a variation by ornament of the main subject or plain song. (b) The upper voice in part music. (c) The canto, cantus, or soprano voice; the treble. --Grove. Twenty doctors expound one text twenty ways, as children make descant upon plain song. --Tyndale. She [the nightingale] all night long her amorous descant sung. --Milton. Note: The term has also been used synonymously with counterpoint, or polyphony, which developed out of the French d['e]chant, of the 12th century. 2. A discourse formed on its theme, like variations on a musical air; a comment or comments. Upon that simplest of themes how magnificent a descant! --De Quincey.
En*chant"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enchanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Enchanting.] [F. enchanter, L. incantare to chant or utter a magic formula over or against one, to bewitch; in in, against + cantare to sing. See Chant, and cf. Incantation.]1. To charm by sorcery; to act on by enchantment; to get control of by magical words and rites. And now about the caldron sing, Like elves and fairies in a ring, Enchanting all that you put in. --Shak. He is enchanted, cannot speak. --Tennyson. 2. To delight in a high degree; to charm; to enrapture; as, music enchants the ear. Arcadia was the charmed circle where all his spirits forever should be enchanted. --Sir P. Sidney. Syn: To charm; bewitch; fascinate. Cf. Charm.
In*cen"tive\, a. [L. incentivus, from incinere to strike up or set the tune; pref. in- + canere to sing. See Enchant, Chant.]1. Inciting; encouraging or moving; rousing to action; stimulative. Competency is the most incentive to industry. --Dr. H. More. 2. Serving to kindle or set on fire. [R.] Part incentive reed Provide, pernicious with one touch of fire. --Milton.
Pre*cen"tor\, n. [L. praecentor, fr. praecinere to sing before; prae before + canere to sing. See Chant.] A leader of a choir; a directing singer. Specifically: (a) The leader of the choir in a cathedral; -- called also the chanter or master of the choir. --Hook. (b) The leader of the congregational singing in Scottish and other churches.
Re*cant"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Recanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Recanting.] [L. recantare, recantatum, to recall, recant; pref. re- re- + cantare to sing, to sound. See 3d Cant, Chant.] To withdraw or repudiate formally and publicly (opinions formerly expressed); to contradict, as a former declaration; to take back openly; to retract; to recall. How soon . . . ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void! --Milton. Syn: To retract; recall; revoke; abjure; disown; disavow. See Renounce.
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