cant

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, probably from Middle Low German *kant Date: 14th century dialect England lively, lusty II. verb Etymology: 3cant Date: circa 1543 transitive verb 1. to give a cant or oblique edge to ; bevel 2. to set at an angle ; tilt 3. chiefly British to throw with a lurch intransitive verb 1. to pitch to one side ; lean 2. slope III. noun Etymology: Middle English cant side, probably from Middle Dutch or Middle French dialect; Middle Dutch, edge, corner, from Middle French dialect (Picard), from Latin canthus, cantus iron tire, perhaps of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh cant rim; perhaps akin to Greek kanthos corner of the eye Date: 1603 1. obsolete corner, niche 2. an external angle (as of a building) 3. a log with one or more squared sides 4. a. an oblique or slanting surface b. inclination, slope IV. adjective Date: 1663 1. having canted corners or sides 2. inclined 2 V. intransitive verb Etymology: perhaps from Middle French dialect (Norman-Picard) canter to tell, literally, to sing, from Latin cantare — more at chant Date: 1567 1. to talk or beg in a whining or singsong manner 2. to speak in cant or jargon 3. to talk hypocritically VI. noun Date: 1640 1. affected singsong or whining speech 2. a. the private language of the underworld b. obsolete the phraseology peculiar to a religious class or sect c. jargon 2 3. a set or stock phrase 4. the expression or repetition of conventional or trite opinions or sentiments; especially the insincere use of pious words