Word Study
cancel
CIDE DICTIONARY
cancel, v. i. [L. cancellare to make like a lattice, to strike or cross out (cf. Fr. canceller, OF. canceler) fr. cancelli lattice, crossbars, dim. of cancer lattice; cf. Gr. latticed gate. Cf. Chancel.].
- To inclose or surround, as with a railing, or with latticework. [1913 Webster]"A little obscure place canceled in with iron work is the pillar or stump at which . . . our Savior was scourged." [1913 Webster]
- To shut out, as with a railing or with latticework; to exclude. Milton. [1913 Webster]
- To cross and deface, as the lines of a writing, or as a word or figure; to mark out by a cross line; to blot out or obliterate. [1913 Webster]"A deed may be avoided by delivering it up to be cancelled; that is, to have lines drawn over it in the form of latticework or cancelli; though the phrase is now used figuratively for any manner of obliterating or defacing it." [1913 Webster]
- To annul or destroy; to revoke or recall. [1913 Webster]"The indentures were canceled." [1913 Webster]"He was unwilling to cancel the interest created through former secret services, by being refractory on this occasion." [1913 Webster]
- To suppress or omit; to strike out, as matter in type. [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- To blot out; obliterate; deface; erase; efface; expunge; annul; abolish; revoke; abrogate; repeal; destroy; do away; set aside. See Abolish.
- An inclosure; a boundary; a limit. [1913 Webster]"A prison is but a retirement, and opportunity of serious thoughts, to a person whose spirit . . . desires no enlargement beyond the cancels of the body." [1913 Webster]
- The suppression or striking out of matter in type, or of a printed page or pages. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
cancel, v. & n.
--v. (cancelled, cancelling; US canceled, canceling)
1 tr. a withdraw or revoke (a previous arrangement). b discontinue (an arrangement in progress).
2 tr. obliterate or delete (writing etc.).
3 tr. mark or pierce (a ticket, stamp, etc.) to invalidate it.
4 tr. annul; make void; abolish.
5 (often foll. by out) a tr. (of one factor or circumstance) neutralize or counterbalance (another). b intr. (of two factors or circumstances) neutralize each other.
6 tr. Math. strike out (an equal factor) on each side of an equation or from the numerator and denominator of a fraction.
--n.
1 a countermand.
2 the cancellation of a postage stamp.
3 Printing a new page or section inserted in a book to replace the original text, usu. to correct an error.
4 Mus. US a natural-sign.
--v. (cancelled, cancelling; US canceled, canceling)
1 tr. a withdraw or revoke (a previous arrangement). b discontinue (an arrangement in progress).
2 tr. obliterate or delete (writing etc.).
3 tr. mark or pierce (a ticket, stamp, etc.) to invalidate it.
4 tr. annul; make void; abolish.
5 (often foll. by out) a tr. (of one factor or circumstance) neutralize or counterbalance (another). b intr. (of two factors or circumstances) neutralize each other.
6 tr. Math. strike out (an equal factor) on each side of an equation or from the numerator and denominator of a fraction.
--n.
1 a countermand.
2 the cancellation of a postage stamp.
3 Printing a new page or section inserted in a book to replace the original text, usu. to correct an error.
4 Mus. US a natural-sign.
Derivative
canceller n.
Etymology
ME f. F canceller f. L cancellare f. cancelli crossbars, lattice
THESAURUS
cancel
KO, abandon, abbreviate, abolish, abolishment, abolition, abort, abridge, abrogate, abrogation, absolve, accent, accent mark, accommodate, adjust, annihilate, annul, annulment, balance, bar, belay, black out, blot, blot out, blotting, blotting out, blue-pencil, bowdlerize, bring to naught, bring to nothing, buffer, call off, cancel out, canceling, cancellation, cassation, cease, censor, character, come to nothing, compensate, compensate for, complete, coordinate, counteract, counterbalance, countermand, counterorder, counterpoise, countervail, cross out, custos, cut, cut it out, declare a moratorium, defeasance, dele, delete, deletion, deny, deracinate, desist, direct, disannul, discontinue, dispose of, do away with, dot, drop, drop it, drop the curtain, edit, edit out, efface, effacement, eliminate, end, end off, equalize, equate, eradicate, erase, erasure, even, even up, expression mark, expunction, expunge, expurgate, extinguish, fermata, finalize, finish, fit, fold up, frustrate, get it over, get over with, get through with, give over, give the quietus, give up, halt, have done with, hold, integrate, invalidate, invalidation, kayo, key signature, kibosh, kill, knock it off, knock out, lay off, lead, leave off, level, ligature, make up for, make void, mark, measure, metronomic mark, negate, negativate, negative, neutralize, notation, nullification, nullify, obliterate, obliteration, offset, omit, override, overrule, pause, perfect, poise, polish off, presa, proportion, put paid to, quash, quit, raze, recall, recant, recantation, redeem, refrain, relinquish, renege, renounce, repeal, repudiate, rescind, rescinding, rescindment, rescission, retract, retraction, reversal, reverse, revocation, revoke, revokement, rub out, rule out, scrag, scratch, scratch out, scrub, scrubbing, segno, set aside, setting aside, shoot down, sign, signature, slur, sponge, sponge out, square, stay, stop, strike, strike a balance, strike off, strike out, stultify, surrender, suspend, suspension, swell, symbol, tempo mark, terminate, thwart, tie, time signature, undo, vacate, vacation, vacatur, vinculum, vitiate, void, voidance, voiding, waive, waiver, waiving, washing out, wipe out, wiping out, withdraw, withdrawal, write off, write-off, zapROGET THESAURUS
cancel
Abrogation
N abrogation, annulment, nullification, recision, vacatur, canceling, cancel, revocation, revokement, repeal, rescission, defeasance, dismissal, conge, demission, bounce, deposal, deposition, dethronement, disestablishment, disendowment, deconsecration, sack, walking papers, pink slip, walking ticket, yellow cover, abolition, abolishment, dissolution, counter order, countermand, repudiation, retraction, retractation, recantation, abolitionist, abrogated, functus officio, Int, get along with you!, begone!, go about your business!, away with!.VB abrogate, annul, cancel, destroy, abolish, revoke, repeal, rescind, reverse, retract, recall, abolitionize, overrule, override, set aside, disannul, dissolve, quash, nullify, declare null and void, disestablish, disendow, deconsecrate, disclaim, ignore, repudiate, recant, divest oneself, break off, countermand, counter order, do away with, sweep away, brush away, throw overboard, throw to the dogs, scatter to the winds, cast behind, dismiss, discard, cast off, turn off, cast out, cast adrift, cast out of doors, cast aside, cast away, send off, send away, send packing, send about one's business, discharge, get rid of, bounce, fire, fire out, sack, cashier, break, oust, unseat, unsaddle, unthrone, dethrone, disenthrone, depose, uncrown, unfrock, strike off the roll, disbar, disbench, be abrogated, receive its quietus, walk the plank.
Nonobservance
VB fail, neglect, omit, elude, evade, give the go-by to, set aside, ignore, shut one's eyes to, close one's eyes to, infringe, transgress, violate, pirate, break, trample under foot, do violence to, drive a coach and six through, discard, protest, repudiate, fling to the winds, set at naught, nullify, declare null and void, cancel, retract, go back from, be off, forfeit, go from one's word, palter, stretch a point, strain a point.Obliteration
N obliteration, erasure, rasure, cancel, cancellation, circumduction, deletion, blot, tabula rasa, effacement, extinction, obliterated, out of print, printless, leaving no trace, intestate, unrecorded, unregistered, unwritten, Int, dele, out with it!, delenda est Carthago.VB efface, obliterate, erase, raze, rase, expunge, cancel, blot out, take out, rub out, scratch out, strike out, wipe out, wash out, sponge out, wipe off, rub off, wipe away, deface, render illegible, draw the pen through, apply the sponge, be effaced, leave no trace, leave not a rack behind.
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