cantor

¹

[ kan-ter, -tawr ]

noun

1. the religious official of a synagogue who conducts the liturgical portion of a service and sings or chants the prayers and parts of prayers designed to be performed as solos.
2. an official whose duty is to lead the singing in a cathedral or in a collegiate or parish church; a precentor.

Cantor

²

[ kan-ter; German kahn-tawr ]

noun

1. Eddie Edward Israel Iskovitz, 1892–1964, U.S. singer and entertainer.
2. Ge·org [gey-, awrk], 1845–1918, German mathematician, born in Russia.

cantor

/ ˈkæntɔː /

noun

1. Also calledchazan Judaism a man employed to lead synagogue services, esp to traditional modes and melodies
2. Christianity the leader of the singing in a church choir

Word History and Origins

Origin of cantor¹

1530–40; < Latin: singer, equivalent to can ( ere ) to sing + -tor -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of cantor¹

C16: from Latin: singer, from canere to sing

Example Sentences

Seven candles were lighted in honor of those who died, as well as first responders and others who helped to save victims; rabbis and cantors sang in Hebrew as the crowd held up battery-powered candles.

From Los Angeles Times

The first talking picture, “The Jazz Singer,” starred Al Jolson as a cantor’s son who wanted to go pop.

From Los Angeles Times

In Grades IV and V, they perform tests at a walk, trot, cantor and do lateral work.

From BBC

Have you heard the one about the cantor who can’t sing and the retired music teacher who walk into a bar?

From Los Angeles Times

Born Sidney Liebowitz in New York City’s borough of Brooklyn, Lawrence was the son of a Jewish cantor who worked as a house painter.

From Seattle Times