cant

¹cant

adjective \ˈkant\

Definition of CANT

dialect English

: lively, lusty

Origin of CANT

Middle English, probably from Middle Low German *kant

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with CANT

ant, aunt, brant, chant, grant, Kant, pant, plant, rant, scant, slant

²cant

verb

Definition of CANT

transitive verb

1

: to give a cant or oblique edge to : bevel

2

: to set at an angle : tilt

3

chiefly British : to throw with a lurch

intransitive verb

1

: to pitch to one side : lean

2

: slope

Origin of CANT

³cant

First Known Use: circa 1543

³cant

noun

Definition of CANT

1

obsolete : corner, niche

2

: an external angle (as of a building)

3

: a log with one or more squared sides

4

a : an oblique or slanting surface

b : inclination, slope

Origin of CANT

Middle English cant side, probably from Middle Dutch or Middle French dialect; Middle Dutch, edge, corner, from Middle French dialect (Picard), from Latin canthus, cantus iron tire, perhaps of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh cant rim; perhaps akin to Greek kanthos corner of the eye

First Known Use: 1603

⁴cant

adjective

Definition of CANT

1

: having canted corners or sides

2

: inclined 2

First Known Use of CANT

1663

⁵cant

intransitive verb

Definition of CANT

1

: to talk or beg in a whining or singsong manner

2

: to speak in cant or jargon

3

: to talk hypocritically

Origin of CANT

perhaps from Middle French dialect (Norman-Picard) canter to tell, literally, to sing, from Latin cantare — more at chant

First Known Use: 1567

⁶cant

noun

Definition of CANT

1

: affected singsong or whining speech

2

a : the private language of the underworld

b obsolete : the phraseology peculiar to a religious class or sect

c : jargon 2

3

: a set or stock phrase

4

: the expression or repetition of conventional or trite opinions or sentiments; especially : the insincere use of pious words

First Known Use of CANT

1640

Other Language Terms

cognate, collocation, homonym

Cant

abbreviation

Definition of CANT

1

Canticle of Canticles

2

Cantonese

Other Bible Terms

antediluvian, apocalyptic, apocrypha, behemoth

cant

noun \ˈkant\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CANT

: an oblique or slanting surface