Chant (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Chanted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chanting.] [F. chanter, fr. L. cantare,
intens. of canere to sing. Cf. Cant affected
speaking, and see Hen.] 1. To utter
with a melodious voice; to sing.
The cheerful birds . . . do chant sweet
music.
Spenser.
2. To celebrate in song.
The poets chant in the theaters.
Bramhall.
3. (Mus.) To sing or recite after
the manner of a chant, or to a tune called a chant.
Chant, v. i. 1.
To make melody with the voice; to sing. "Chant
to the sound of the viol." Amos vi. 5.
2. (Mus.) To sing, as in reciting
a chant.
To chant (or chaunt)
horses, to sing their praise; to
overpraise; to cheat in selling. See Chaunter.
Thackeray.
Chant, n.[F. chant, fr. L.
cantus singing, song, fr. canere to sing. See
Chant, v. t.] 1.
Song; melody.
2. (Mus.) A short and simple
melody, divided into two parts by double bars, to which
unmetrical psalms, etc., are sung or recited. It is the most
ancient form of choral music.
3. A psalm, etc., arranged for
chanting.
4. Twang; manner of speaking; a canting
tone. [R.]
His strange face, his strange chant.
Macaulay.
Ambrosian chant, See under Ambrosian.
Chant royal [F.], in old French poetry, a
poem containing five strophes of eleven lines each, and a
concluding stanza. -- each of these six parts ending with a
common refrain. -- Gregorian chant.
See under Gregorian.
