cantillate

[ kan-tl-eyt ]
/ ˈkæn tlˌeɪt /

verb (used with object), can·til·lat·ed, can·til·lat·ing.

to chant; intone.

Origin of cantillate

1860–65; < Late Latin cantillātus sung low, hummed (past participle of cantillāre), equivalent to cant- sing (see cant1) + -ill- diminutive suffix + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM cantillate

can·til·la·tion, noun

Words nearby cantillate

cantigny, cantilena, cantilever, cantilever bridge, cantilever foundation, cantillate, cantillation, cantillon, cantina, canting, canting arms

Example sentences from the Web for cantillation

  • The feature that most interests us is the singing, or cantillation, of the oli.

    Unwritten Literature of Hawaii |Nathaniel Bright Emerson

  • They guide the modulated flow of the voice in cantillation, thus serving, in a certain sense, as musical notes.

    Companion to the Bible |E. P. Barrows

  • The cantillation of the mele was in the distinct and quiet tone and manner which the Hawaiians termed ko'i-honua.

    Unwritten Literature of Hawaii |Nathaniel Bright Emerson

British Dictionary definitions for cantillation (1 of 2)

cantillation
/ (ˌkæntɪˈleɪʃən) /

noun

the traditional notation representing the various traditional Jewish melodies to which scriptural passages are chanted
chanting or intonation

British Dictionary definitions for cantillation (2 of 2)

cantillate
/ (ˈkæntɪˌleɪt) /

verb

to chant (passages of the Hebrew Scriptures) according to the traditional Jewish melody
to intone or chant

Word Origin for cantillate

C19: from Late Latin cantillāre to sing softly, from Latin cantāre to sing