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cant 1 (k nt)n.1. Angular deviation from a vertical or horizontal plane or surface; an inclination or slope. 2. A slanted or oblique surface. 3. a. A thrust or motion that tilts something. b. The tilt caused by such a thrust or motion. 4. An outer corner, as of a building. v. cant·ed, cant·ing, cants v.tr.1. To set at an oblique angle; tilt. 2. To give a slanting edge to; bevel. 3. To change the direction of suddenly. v.intr.1. To lean to one side; slant. 2. To take an oblique direction or course; swing around, as a ship.
[Middle English, side, from Old North French, from Vulgar Latin *cantus, corner, from Latin canthus, rim of wheel, tire, of Celtic origin.] |
cant 2 (k nt)n.1. Monotonous talk filled with platitudes. 2. Hypocritically pious language. 3. The special vocabulary peculiar to the members of an underworld group; argot. 5. Whining speech, such as that used by beggars. 6. The special terminology understood among the members of a profession, discipline, or class but obscure to the general population; jargon. See Synonyms at dialect. intr.v. cant·ed, cant·ing, cants 1. To speak tediously or sententiously; moralize. 2. To speak in argot or jargon. 3. To speak in a whining, pleading tone.
[Anglo-Norman cant, song, singing, from canter, to sing, from Latin cant re; see kan- in Indo-European roots.]
cant ing·ly adv. cant ing·ness n. |
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