- cant⇄adj. 1. having canted corners or edges.
2. tilted from the perpendicular or the horizontal; sloping. - cant⇄adj. 1. peculiar to a special language.
Ex. cant words of thieves.
2. used for the sake of fashion; affected.
Ex. to borrow a cant phrase.
3. marked by affected piety; insincere. - cant⇄cant (1), noun, adjective, verb.
- cant⇄cant (2), noun, verb, adjective.
- cant⇄cant (3), adjective.
(British Dialect.) lively; merry; brisk.
Ex. ... as cant as a kitling (Evelyn Waugh). - cant⇄noun 1. a sloping, slanting, or tilted position; lean; inclination.
Ex. The ship took on a dangerous cant to starboard.
2. a sudden pitch or toss which causes a person or thing to overturn or fall.
3. a turning or tilting movement. - cant⇄noun 1. talk that is not sincere; moral or religious statements that many people make, but few really believe or act upon.
Ex. Clear your mind of cant (Samuel Johnson).
(SYN) hypocrisy.
2. the peculiar language of a special group, usi - cant⇄v.i. 1. to tilt, pitch on one side, or turn over.
Ex. The sailboat canted over in the storm. The stone platform collapsed and the building canted over (L. L. Green).
2. to have a slanting position or direction; slope.
3. to swing away - cant⇄v.i. 1. to use cant; talk in cant.
2. to speak in the manner of a beggar; whine; beg. - cant⇄v.t. to use (expressions) merely because they are fashionable; say for fashion's sake.
Ex. I have heard the same cant canted about a much finer building (Macaulay). - cant⇄v.t. 1. to give a slant or slope to; bevel.
Ex. He canted the edges of a board.
2. to put into a slanting position; tip; tilt; incline.
Ex. The wind canted the ship to port. The sea broke in upon us, and the canoe being half full, cant