canto

[ kan-toh ]

noun

, plural can·tos.

1. one of the main or larger divisions of a long poem.

canto

/ ˈkæntəʊ /

noun

1. music another word for cantus
2. a main division of a long poem

Word History and Origins

Origin of canto¹

1580–90; < Italian < Latin cant ( us ) singing, song, equivalent to can ( ere ) to sing + -tus suffix of v. action; cant ¹, chant

Word History and Origins

Origin of canto¹

C16: from Italian: song, from Latin cantus, from canere to sing

Example Sentences

The little town of Canto Gallo is situated in a narrow valley, and contains about eighty houses.

From Project Gutenberg

I had found lodgings in a venda for the last time, the preceding evening, at Canto Gallo.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, eleven stanzas (183-259) correspond to Boccaccio's Teseide, Canto vii.

From Project Gutenberg

This second canto is a delight from beginning to end; Mistral is here in his element; he is at his very best.

From Project Gutenberg

This canto never would have converted Boileau from his disapproval of the "merveilleux chrétien."

From Project Gutenberg