rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: cantare
Latin

cantare

sing or chant

Forms

  • cantare
  • cantat- — The form used for completed action.

Origin

A repeated-action formation from Latin canere, “sing.”

Note

The strengthened form became an ordinary singing verb in several later languages.

7 / 7
At a simple formal hearing table, a speaker publicly withdraws his earlier statement, sliding his statement sheet away with one hand while raising the other in a sober, open-palmed gesture.
verb

recant

ri-KANT/rɪˈkænt/

To formally withdraw a previous statement or belief.

Etymology
reLatinback, again; restoration or reversal
+cantLatinsing or chant

The underlying image is ‘singing back’ what was sung before. Latin used this combination for recalling or revoking, connecting it to formally withdrawing a statement or belief.

Full entry

Related word entries