Cant
(Cant), v. t. to sell by auction, or bid a price at a sale by auction. [Archaic] Swift.
Can't
(Can't) A colloquial contraction for can not.
Cantab
(Can"tab) n. [Abbreviated from Cantabrigian.] A Cantabrigian. [Colloq.] Sir W. Scott.
Cantabile
(||Can*ta"bi*le) a. [It., cantare to sing.] (Mus.) In a melodious, flowing style; in a singing
style, as opposed to bravura, recitativo, or parlando.
Cantabile
(||Can*ta"bi*le), n. (Mus.) A piece or passage, whether vocal or instrumental, peculiarly
adapted to singing; — sometimes called cantilena.
Cantabrian
(Can*ta"bri*an) a. Of or pertaining to Cantabria on the Bay of Biscay in Spain.
Cantabrigian
(Can`ta*brig"i*an) n. A native or resident of Cambridge; esp. a student or graduate of the
university of Cambridge, England.
Cantalever
(Can"ta*lev`er) n. [Cant an external angle + lever a supporter of the roof timber of a house.]
[Written also cantaliver and cantilever.]
1. (Arch.) A bracket to support a balcony, a cornice, or the like.
2. (Engin.) A projecting beam, truss, or bridge unsupported at the outer end; one which overhangs.
Cantalever bridge, a bridge in which the principle of the cantalever is applied. It is usually a trussed
bridge, composed of two portions reaching out from opposite banks, and supported near the middle of
their own length on piers which they overhang, thus forming cantalevers which meet over the space to
be spanned or sustain a third portion, to complete the connection.
Cantaloupe
(Can"ta*loupe) n. [F. cantaloup, It. cantalupo, so called from the caste of Cantalupo,
in the Marca d'Ancona, in Italy, where they were first grown in Europe, from seed said to have been
imported from Armenia.] A muskmelon of several varieties, having when mature, a yellowish skin, and
flesh of a reddish orange color. [Written also cantaleup.]
Cantankerous
(Can*tan"ker*ous) a. Perverse; contentious; ugly; malicious. [Colloq.] — Can*tan"ker*ous*ly,
adv. — Can*tan"ker*ous*ness, n.
The cantankerous old maiden aunt.
Thackeray.
Cantar
(Can"tar ||Can*tar"ro) n. [It. cantaro Sp. cantaro ]
1. A weight used in southern Europe and East for heavy articles. It varies in different localities; thus, at
Rome it is nearly 75 pounds, in Sardinia nearly 94 pounds, in Cairo it is 95 pounds, in Syria about 503
pounds.
2. A liquid measure in Spain, ranging from two and a half to four gallons. Simmonds.
Cantata
(||Can*ta"ta) n. [It., fr. cantare to sing, fr. L. cantare intens of canere to sing.] (Mus.) A
poem set to music; a musical composition comprising choruses, solos, interludes, etc., arranged in a
somewhat dramatic manner; originally, a composition for a single noise, consisting of both recitative and
melody.
Cantation
(Can*ta"tion) n. [L. cantatio.] A singing. [Obs.] Blount.
Cantatory
(Cant"a*to*ry) a. Containing cant or affectation; whining; singing. [R.]
Cantatrice
(||Can`ta*tri"ce) n. [It.] (Mus.) A female professional singer.
