cant
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Etymology 1
From Latin cantō probably via Old Northern French canter (“sing, tell”), cognate with chant.
[edit] Noun
cant (plural cants)
- An argot, the jargon of a particular class or subgroup.
- He had the look of a prince, but the cant of a fishmonger.
- A private or secret language used by a religious sect, gang, or other group.
- Shelta.
- Empty, hypocritical talk.
- People claim to care about the poor of Africa, but it is largely cant.
- 1749 — Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Book IV ch iv
- He is too well grounded for all your philosophical cant to hurt.
- 1759-1770 — Laurence Sterne, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy.
- Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world — though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst — the cant of criticism is the most tormenting!
- Whining speech, such as that used by beggars.
- (heraldry) A blazon of a coat of arms that makes a pun upon the name of the bearer, canting arms.
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
jargon of a particular class or subgroup
secret language
hypocritical talk
whining speech, such as that used by beggars.
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heraldry: blazon that makes a pun, canting arms
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[edit] Verb
cant (third-person singular simple present cants, present participle canting, simple past and past participle canted)
- (intransitive) To speak with the jargon of a class or subgroup.
- (intransitive) To speak in set phrases.
- (intransitive) To preach in a singsong fashion, especially in a false or empty manner.
- (intransitive, heraldry) Of a blazon, to make a pun that references the bearer of a coat of arms.
[edit] Etymology 2
[edit] Noun
cant (plural cants)
- (obsolete) corner, niche
- slope, the angle at which something is set.
- 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, Part Five
- Owing to the cant of the vessel, the masts hung far out over the water, and from my perch on the cross-trees I had nothing below me but the surface of the bay.
- 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, Part Five
- A movement or throw that overturns something.
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
angle at which something is set
movement that overturns
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[edit] Verb
cant (third-person singular simple present cants, present participle canting, simple past and past participle canted)
- (transitive) To set (something) at an angle.
- (transitive) To bevel an edge or corner.
- (transitive) To overturn so that the contents are emptied.
[edit] Translations
set something at an angle
[edit] Etymology 3
[edit] Verb
cant (third-person singular simple present cants, present participle canting, simple past and past participle canted)
- (transitive) To divide or parcel out.
[edit] Etymology 4
From Middle English, presumably from Middle Low German *kant
[edit] Alternative forms
[edit] Adjective
cant (not comparable)
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Catalan
[edit] Etymology
From Latin cantus.
[edit] Noun
cant m. (plural cants)
[edit] Italian
[edit] Noun
cant m. inv.
[edit] Welsh
[edit] Noun
cant m. (plural cannoedd)
[edit] Noun
cant m. (plural cantau)
[edit] Mutation
| Welsh mutation | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| radical | soft | nasal | aspirate |
| cant | gant | nghant | chant |
[edit] Related terms
[edit] References
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