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cant
1[ kant ]
noun
- insincere, especially conventional expressions of enthusiasm for high ideals, goodness, or piety.
- the private language of the underworld.
- the phraseology peculiar to a particular class, party, profession, etc.:
the cant of the fashion industry.
- whining or singsong speech, especially of beggars.
verb (used without object)
- to talk hypocritically.
- to speak in the whining or singsong tone of a beggar; beg.
cant
2[ kant ]
noun
- a salient angle.
- a sudden movement that tilts or overturns a thing.
- a slanting or tilted position.
- an oblique line or surface, as one formed by cutting off the corner of a square of cube.
- an oblique or slanting face of anything.
- Civil Engineering. bank 1( def 6 ).
- a sudden pitch or toss.
- Also called flitch. a partly trimmed log.
adjective
- oblique or slanting.
verb (used with object)
- to bevel; form an oblique surface upon.
- to throw with a sudden jerk.
can't
4[ kant, kahnt ]
- contraction of cannot.
Cant.
5abbreviation for
- Canterbury.
- Cantonese.
cant
1/ kɑːnt /
adjective
- dialect.lusty; merry; hearty
cant
2/ kænt /
noun
- inclination from a vertical or horizontal plane; slope; slant
- a sudden movement that tilts or turns something
- the angle or tilt thus caused
- a corner or outer angle, esp of a building
- an oblique or slanting surface, edge, or line
verb
- to tip, tilt, or overturn, esp with a sudden jerk
- to set in an oblique position
- another word for bevel
adjective
- oblique; slanting
- having flat surfaces and without curves
can't
3/ kɑːnt /
contraction of
- cannot
Cant.
4abbreviation for
- Canterbury
- Bible Canticles
cant
5/ kænt /
noun
- insincere talk, esp concerning religion or morals; pious platitudes
- stock phrases that have become meaningless through repetition
- specialized vocabulary of a particular group, such as thieves, journalists, or lawyers; jargon
- singsong whining speech, as used by beggars
verb
- intr to speak in or use cant
Usage Note
Spelling Note
Derived Forms
- ˈcantic, adjective
- ˈcantingly, adverb
- ˈcanter, noun
Other Words From
- canting·ly adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of cant1
Origin of cant2
Origin of cant3
Word History and Origins
Origin of cant1
Origin of cant2
Origin of cant3
Idioms and Phrases
- beggars can't be choosers
- if you can't beat them, join them
- you can't take it with you
- you can't win them all
- can
Example Sentences
I mean, even Ron Fournier of National Journal, usually devoted to the pox-on-both-houses, why-can't-Obama-lead?
"C-c-can't make 'em hang," lamented Montgomery, after a few moments' unsuccessful effort.
But I c-can't leave that poor motherless little fellow cry his heart out in that big, dark, lonely kitchen.
I c-c-can't l-l-leave my h-h-house to m-m-muddle myself with a d-d-devilish b-b-business I kn-know n-n-nothing about.
He can't, he c-can't be s-so cruel—and you are cruel to me—you are, you are!'
Our-folks will-forgive- you-for-not-being-up-to-white-folks,-but-a-man-that-can't-put-up-a-bold- front has-no-forgiveness.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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