[kant], (Noun)

Definitions:
- hypocritical and sanctimonious talk, typically of a moral, religious, or political nature
(e.g: he had no time for the cant of the priests about sin)

- language specific to a particular group or profession and regarded with disparagement
(e.g: thieves' cant)


Phrases:

Origin:
early 16th century: probably from Latin cantare ‘to sing’ (see chant). The early meaning was ‘musical sound, singing’; in the mid 17th century this gave rise to the senses ‘whining manner of speaking’ and ‘form of words repeated mechanically in such a manner’ (for example a beggar's plea), hence ‘jargon’ (of beggars and other such groups)

[kant], (Verb)

Definitions:
- talk hypocritically and sanctimoniously about something
(e.g: if they'd stop canting about ‘honest work’ they might get somewhere)


Phrases:

Origin:
early 16th century: probably from Latin cantare ‘to sing’ (see chant). The early meaning was ‘musical sound, singing’; in the mid 17th century this gave rise to the senses ‘whining manner of speaking’ and ‘form of words repeated mechanically in such a manner’ (for example a beggar's plea), hence ‘jargon’ (of beggars and other such groups)

[kant], (Verb)

Definitions:
- have or cause to have a slanting or oblique position; tilt
(e.g: he canted his head to look at the screen)


Phrases:

Origin:
Middle English (denoting an edge or brink): from Middle Low German kant, kante, Middle Dutch cant ‘point, side, edge’, based on a Romance word related to medieval Latin cantus ‘corner, side’

[kant], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a slope or tilt
(e.g: the outward cant of the curving walls)

- a wedge-shaped block of wood, especially one remaining after the better-quality pieces have been cut off
(e.g: a squared-off cant remains, containing the knottiest wood)


Phrases:

Origin:
Middle English (denoting an edge or brink): from Middle Low German kant, kante, Middle Dutch cant ‘point, side, edge’, based on a Romance word related to medieval Latin cantus ‘corner, side’