Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Chant?

\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}.