cant

1 of 7

noun (1)

1

: the expression or repetition of conventional or trite opinions or sentiments

especially : the insincere use of pious words

the cant of hypocrites

2

: a set or stock phrase

3

a

: the private language of the underworld

the cant of thieves

b

: jargon sense 1

c

obsolete : the phraseology peculiar to a religious class or sect

4

: affected singsong or whining speech

a beggar's cant

cant

2 of 7

verb (1)

canted; canting; cants

intransitive verb

1

: to talk hypocritically

canted about brotherly love

2

: to speak in cant or jargon

The thieves were canting among themselves.

3

: to talk or beg in a whining or singsong manner

bade me cant and whine in another place

—Samuel Johnson

cant

3 of 7

verb (2)

canted; canting; cants

intransitive verb

1

: to pitch to one side : lean

The deck of the ship was canting.

2

: slope

The roof canted gently.

transitive verb

1

: to set at an angle : tilt

cant a cask

2

: to give a cant or oblique edge to : bevel

cant off a corner

3

chiefly British : to throw with a lurch

cant

4 of 7

noun (2)

1

a

: an oblique or slanting surface

the cant of a riverbank

b

: inclination, slope

the cant of a gun barrel

2

: an external angle (as of a building)

3

: a log with one or more squared sides

4

obsolete : corner, niche

cant

5 of 7

adjective (1)

1

: having canted corners or sides

a cant molding

2

: inclined sense 2

a cant buttress

cant

6 of 7

adjective (2)

ˈkant 

dialectal, England

: lively, lusty

Cant

7 of 7

abbreviation

1

Canticle of Canticles

2

Cantonese

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• dissembling
• dissimulation
• hypocrisy
• insincerity
• piousness

Verb (2)

• angle
• cock
• heel
• incline
• lean
• list
• pitch
• slant
• slope
• tilt
• tip

Noun (2)

• diagonal
• grade
• gradient
• inclination
• incline
• lean
• pitch
• rake
• slant
• slope
• upgrade

Adjective (1)

• canted
• diagonal
• graded
• inclined
• leaning
• listing
• oblique
• pitched
• raked
• slant
• slanted
• slantwise
• sloped
• sloping
• tilted
• tilting

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

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

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

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

Adjective (2)

Middle English, probably from Middle Low German *kant

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb (1)

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb (2)

circa 1543, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun (2)

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Adjective (1)

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cant

• cant dog
• cant hook

• cant dog
• cant hook

Kids Definition

cant

1 of 3 noun

ˈkant 

1

: a slanting surface

2

: slope entry 3 sense 2, incline

cant

2 of 3 verb

: to give a slant to

cant

3 of 3 noun

1

a

: argot

b

: jargon sense 2

2

: insincere speech

Medical Definition

cant

noun

ˈkant 

: an oblique or slanting surface