chant

Obsolete, chaunt

[chant, chahnt]

noun

1. a short, simple melody, especially one characterized by single notes to which an indefinite number of syllables are intoned, used in singing psalms, canticles, etc., in church services.

2. a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.

3. the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.

4. any monotonous song.

5. a song; singing.

   the chant of a bird.

6. a monotonous intonation of the voice in speaking.

7. a phrase, slogan, or the like, repeated rhythmically and insistently, as by a crowd.

verb (used with object)

1. to sing to a chant, or in the manner of a chant, especially in a church service.

2. to sing.

3. to celebrate in song.

4. to repeat (a phrase, slogan, etc.) rhythmically and insistently.

verb (used without object)

1. to sing.

2. to utter a chant.

chant

/ tʃɑːnt /

noun

1. a simple song or melody

2. a short simple melody in which several words or syllables are assigned to one note, as in the recitation of psalms

3. a psalm or canticle performed by using such a melody

4. a rhythmic or repetitious slogan, usually spoken or sung, as by sports supporters, etc

5. monotonous or singsong intonation in speech

verb

1. to sing or recite (a psalm, prayer, etc) as a chant

2. to intone (a slogan) rhythmically or repetitiously

3. to speak or say monotonously as if intoning a chant

Other Word Forms

• chantingly adverb
• chanting noun
• chantable adjective
• half-chanted adjective
• unchanted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; (verb) Middle English chanten, from Middle French chanter, from Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere “to sing”; (noun) from French chant, from Latin cantus; canto

Word History and Origins

Origin of chant¹

C14: from Old French chanter to sing, from Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere to sing

Example Sentences

Among the anti-Levy chants that echoed regularly around the vast Tottenham Hotspur stadium, a popular one was, "I don't care about Levy, he doesn't care about me, all I care about is Kulusevski".

From BBC

There were also regular chants of "Levy out" during the campaign.

From BBC

April Soto, 26, copes with her white-hot rage at life by chanting “dead inside” while listening to ambient noise through her Beats.

From Los Angeles Times

That came from the other team’s fans, who filled the Pasadena night with the taunting chant of, “Let’s Go Utah.”

From Los Angeles Times

Among the anti immigration crowd there were signs reading "stop the boats'"and "enough is enough", while counter demonstrators chanted "refugees are welcome here".

From BBC

Related Words

• hymn 
• mantra 
• melody 
• shout 
• singing www.thesaurus.com
• tune