Chant

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Chant, v. t. [F. chanter, fr. L. cantare, intens. of canere to sing. Cf. Cant affected speaking, and see Hen.].

•  To utter with a melodious voice; to sing.  [1913 Webster]

  "The cheerful birds . . . do chant sweet music."  [1913 Webster]
•  To celebrate in song.  [1913 Webster]

  "The poets chant in the theaters."  [1913 Webster]
•  To sing or recite after the manner of a chant, or to a tune called a chant.  [1913 Webster]

Chant, v. i. 

•  To make melody with the voice; to sing.  Amos vi. 5.  [1913 Webster]
•  To sing, as in reciting a chant.  [1913 Webster]

To chant horses or To 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.].

•  Song; melody.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  A psalm, etc., arranged for chanting.  [1913 Webster]
•  Twang; manner of speaking; a canting tone.  [1913 Webster]

  "His strange face, his strange chant."  [1913 Webster]

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.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Chant, n. & v.
--n.
1 a a spoken singsong phrase, esp. one performed in unison by a crowd etc. b a repetitious singsong way of speaking.
2 Mus. a a short musical passage in two or more phrases used for singing unmetrical words, e.g. psalms, canticles. b the psalm or canticle so sung. c a song, esp. monotonous or repetitive.
3 a musical recitation, esp. of poetry.
--v.tr. & intr.
1 talk or repeat monotonously (a crowd chanting slogans).
2 sing or intone (a psalm etc.).

Etymology

ME (orig. as verb) f. OF chanter sing f. L cantare frequent. of canere cant- sing

THESAURUS

Chant

Agnus Dei, Benedicite, Brautlied, Christmas carol, Gloria, Gloria Patri, Gloria in Excelsis, Introit, Kunstlied, Liebeslied, Magnificat, Miserere, Nunc Dimittis, Te Deum, Trisagion, Vedic hymn, Volkslied, alba, alleluia, answer, anthem, antiphon, antiphony, art song, aubade, ballad, ballade, ballata, barcarole, bark, bawl, bellow, bis, blare, blat, blubber, blues, blues song, boat song, bob, boom, bray, breathe, bridal hymn, brindisi, burden, buzz, cackle, calypso, canso, canticle, canzone, canzonet, canzonetta, carol, cavatina, chanson, chantey, chirp, chirrup, choir, chorale, chorus, coo, croon, croon song, crow, descant, dirge, ditto, ditty, do-re-mi, doxology, drawl, drinking song, epithalamium, exclaim, flute, folk song, gasp, growl, grunt, hallelujah, hiss, hosanna, hum, hymeneal, hymn, hymn of praise, hymnody, hymnography, hymnology, intonate, intone, keen, laud, lay, lied, lilt, love song, love-lilt, mantra, matin, minstrel, minstrel song, minstrelsy, monody, motet, mumble, murmur, mutter, national anthem, offertory, offertory sentence, paean, pant, pipe, prothalamium, psalm, psalmody, quaver, refrain, repeat, repetend, report, response, responsory, ritornello, roar, roulade, rumble, scream, screech, serena, serenade, serenata, shake, shriek, sibilate, sigh, sing, sing in chorus, singsong, snap, snarl, snort, sob, sol-fa, solmizate, song, squall, squawk, squeal, theme song, thunder, torch song, tremolo, trill, troll, trumpet, tune, twang, tweedle, tweedledee, twit, twitter, undersong, versicle, vocalize, wail, war song, warble, wedding song, whine, whisper, whistle, yap, yawp, yell, yelp, yodel

ROGET THESAURUS

Chant

Worship

N worship, adoration, devotion, aspiration, homage, service, humiliation, kneeling, genuflection, prostration, prayer, invocation, supplication, rogation, intercession, orison, holy breathing, petition, collect, litany, Lord's prayer, paternoster, beadroll, latria, dulia, hyperdulia, vigils, revival, cult, anxious meeting, camp meeting, ebenezer, virginal, thanksgiving, giving thanks, returning thanks, grace, praise, glorification, benediction, doxology, hosanna, hallelujah, allelujah, Te Deum, non nobis Domine, nunc dimittis, paean, benschen, Ave Maria, O Salutaris, Sanctus, The Annunciation, Tersanctus, Trisagion, psalm, psalmody, hymn, plain song, chant, chaunt, response, anthem, motet, antiphon, antiphony, oblation, sacrifice, incense, libation, burnt offering, heave offering, votive offering, offertory, discipline, self-discipline, self-examination, self-denial, fasting, divine service, office, duty, exercises, morning prayer, mass, matins, evensong, vespers, undernsong, tierce, holyday, worshipper, congregation, communicant, celebrant, worshipping, devout, devotional, reverent, pure, solemn, fervid, Int, hallelujah, allelujah!, hosanna!, glory be to God!, O Lord!, pray God that!, God grant, God bless, God save, God forbid!, sursum corda, making their lives a prayer, ora et labora, prayers ardent open heaven.

Music

N music, concert, strain, tune, air, melody, aria, arietta, piece of music, work, number, opus, sonata, rondo, rondeau, pastorale, cavatina, roulade, fantasia, concerto, overture, symphony, variations, cadenza, cadence, fugue, canon, quodlibet, serenade, notturno, dithyramb, opera, operetta, oratorio, composition, movement, stave, passamezzo, toccata, Vorspiel, instrumental music, full score, minstrelsy, tweedledum and tweedledee, band, orchestra, concerted piece, potpourri, capriccio, vocal music, vocalism, chaunt, chant, psalm, psalmody, hymn, song, canticle, canzonet, cantata, bravura, lay, ballad, ditty, carol, pastoral, recitative, recitativo, solfeggio, Lydian measures, slow music, slow movement, adagio, minuet, siren strains, soft music, lullaby, dump, dirge, pibroch, martial music, march, dance music, waltz, solo, duet, duo, trio, quartet, quartett, septett, part song, descant, glee, madrigal, catch, round, chorus, chorale, antiphon, antiphony, accompaniment, second, bass, score, bourdon, drone, morceau, terzetto, composer, musician, musical, instrumental, vocal, choral, lyric, operatic, harmonious, Wagnerian, adagio, largo, larghetto, andante, andantino, alla capella, maestoso, moderato, allegro, allegretto, spiritoso, vivace, veloce, presto, prestissimo, con brio, capriccioso, scherzo, scherzando, legato, staccato, crescendo, diminuendo, rallentando, affettuoso, obbligato, pizzicato, desto, in notes by distance made more sweet, like the faint exquisite music of a dream, music arose with its voluptuous swell, music is the universal language of mankind, music's golden tongue, the speech of angels, will sing the savageness out of a bear, music hath charms to soothe the savage beast.

Musician

VB play, pipe, strike up, sweep the chords, tweedle, fiddle, strike the lyre, beat the drum, blow the horn, sound the horn, wind the horn, doodle, grind the organ, touch the guitar, thrum, strum, beat time, execute, perform, accompany, sing a second, play a second, compose, set to music, arrange, sing, chaunt, chant, hum, warble, carol, chirp, chirrup, lilt, purl, quaver, trill, shake, twitter, whistle, sol-fa, intone, have an ear for music, have a musical ear, have a correct ear.