can·cel   (kān'səl)    v.   can·celed also can·celled, can·cel·ing also can·cel·ling, can·cels also can·cels v.   tr. To cross out with lines or other markings. See Synonyms at erase. To annul or invalidate. To mark or perforate (a postage stamp or check, for example) to indicate that it may not be used again. To equalize or make up for; offset: Today's decline in stock price canceled out yesterday's gain. Mathematics To remove (a common factor) from the numerator and denominator of a fractional expression. To remove (a common factor or term) from both sides of an equation or inequality. Printing To omit or delete. v.   intr. To neutralize one another; counterbalance: two opposing forces that canceled out. n.   The act or an instance of canceling; a cancellation. Printing Deletion of typed or printed matter. The matter deleted. A replacement for deleted matter. [Middle English cancellen, from Old French canceller, from Latin cancellāre, to cross out, from cancellus, lattice, diminutive of cancer, lattice.] can'cel·a·ble adj., can'cel·er n.

Cancel

Can"cel\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Canceled or Cancelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Canceling or Cancelling.] [L. cancellare to make like a lattice, to strike or cross out (cf. Fr. canceller, OF. canceler) fr. cancelli lattice, crossbars, dim. of cancer lattice; cf. Gr. ? latticed gate. Cf. Chancel.]

1. To inclose or surround, as with a railing, or with latticework. [Obs.]

A little obscure place canceled in with iron work is the pillar or stump at which . . . our Savior was scourged. --Evelyn.

2. To shut out, as with a railing or with latticework; to exclude. [Obs.] "Canceled from heaven." --Milton.

3. To cross and deface, as the lines of a writing, or as a word or figure; to mark out by a cross line; to blot out or obliterate.

A deed may be avoided by delivering it up to be cancelled; that is, to have lines drawn over it in the form of latticework or cancelli; though the phrase is now used figuratively for any manner of obliterating or defacing it. --Blackstone.

4. To annul or destroy; to revoke or recall.

The indentures were canceled. --Thackeray.

He was unwilling to cancel the interest created through former secret services, by being refractory on this occasion. --Sir W. Scott.

5. (Print.) To suppress or omit; to strike out, as matter in type.

Canceled figures (Print), figures cast with a line across the face., as for use in arithmetics.

Syn: To blot out; obliterate; deface; erase; efface; expunge; annul; abolish; revoke; abrogate; repeal; destroy; do away; set aside. See Abolish.

cancel 

Main Entry: can·cel
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -celed or -celled; -cel·ing or -cel·ling
1 : to destroy the force, validity, or effectiveness of: as a : to render (one's will or a provision in one's will) ineffective by purposely making marks through or otherwise marring the text of —compare REVOKE
NOTE: The text of the will or of the will's provision need not be rendered illegible in order for a court to find that there was an intent to cancel it. b : to make (a negotiable instrument) unenforceable esp. by purposely marking through or otherwise marring the words or signature of
NOTE: As stated in section 3-604 of the Uniform Commercial Code, a party that is entitled to enforce a negotiable instrument may cancel the instrument, whether or not for consideration, and discharge the obligation of the other party to pay. c : to mark (a check) to indicate that payment has been made by the bank
NOTE: A check is no longer negotiable once it has been cancelled. d : to withdraw an agreement to honor (a letter of credit) cancels or otherwise repudiates a credit before presentment of a draft —Uniform Commercial Code>
2 : to put an end to (a contract): as a : to end (a contract) by discharging the other party from obligations as yet unperformed b : to end (a contract) in accordance with the provisions of U.C.C. section 2-106 or a similar statute because the other party has breached —compare RESCIND, TERMINATE
NOTE: Section 2-106 provides that a party that cancels a contract because of the other party's breach is entitled to seek remedies for breach of all or part of the contract. c : to put an end to (a lease contract) because of the default of the other party
NOTE: Under U.C.C. section 2A-505, a party that cancels because of the other party's default may seek remedies for the default of all or any unperformed part of the lease contract.
3 : to terminate (an insurance policy) before the end of policy period usually as allowed by policy provisions —can·cel·able or can·cel·la·ble adjective

Cancel character
(CAN, Control-X) ASCII character 24.
(1996-06-28)