cantillate

verb

can·​til·​late ˈkan-tə-ˌlāt How to pronounce cantillate (audio)
cantillated; cantillating

transitive verb

: to recite with musical tones
cantillation noun

Examples of cantillate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Despite the vast altars on which networks make gruesome sacrifices while cantillating to their gods, neither of these shows will last forever. Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cantillate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin cantilatus, past participle of cantilare to sing, perhaps from cantilena

First Known Use

circa 1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cantillate was circa 1828

Dictionary Entries Near cantillate

Cite this Entry

“Cantillate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cantillate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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