cant
Cross references:
1. dialect
1. cant \'kant\ aj [ME, prob. fr. (assumed) MLG kant] dial Eng : LIVELY,
LUSTY
2. cant n [ME, prob. fr. MD or ONF; MD, edge, corner fr. ONF, fr. L
canthus, can]tus iron tire, perh. of Celt origin; akin to W cant rim; akin
to Gk kanthos corner of the eye obs 1: CORNER, NICHE 2: an external angle
(as of a building) 3a: a sudden thrust producing a bias 3b: the bias so
caused 4: an oblique or slanting surface 5: an inclination from a given
line : SLOPE
3. cant vt 1: to give a cant or oblique edge to : BEVEL 2: to set at an
angle : tip or tilt up or over 3: to turn or throw off or out by tilting
or rotating {~ a rifle> chiefly Brit 4: to give a sudden turn or new
direction to 1: to pitch to one side : LEAN 2: SLOPE
4. cant aj 1: having canted corners or sides 2: slanting with respect to a
particular straight line
5. cant vi [prob. fr. ONF canter to tell, lit., to sing, fr. L cantare -
mor]e at CHANT 1: BEG 2: to speak in cant or technical terms 3: to talk
hypocritically
6. cant n often attrib 1: affected singsong speech 2a: ARGOT obs 2b:
the phraseology peculiar to a religious class or sect 2c: JARGON 3: a set
or stock phrase 4: the expression or repetition of conventional, trite, or
unconsidered opi nions or sentiments; esp : the insincere use of pious
phraseology