cantillate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to chant (passages of the Hebrew Scriptures) according to the traditional Jewish melody
-
to intone or chant
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cantillate
1860–65; < Late Latin cantillātus sung low, hummed (past participle of cantillāre ), equivalent to cant- sing ( see cant 1) + -ill- diminutive suffix + -ātus -ate 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A lady of pleasing appearance, attired in a mollified Pierrot costume, stood before some Japanese screens and began to intone—to cantillate, would be a better expression.
From Ivory Apes and Peacocks by Huneker, James
Does Mr. Arnold Bennett cantillate his "copy" into the horn of a graphophone or use a motor-stylus?
From Punch or the London Charivari, Volume 158, March 24, 1920. by Various
Then came another period of dance and song; and then, having cantillated a pule hoonoa, to lift the tabu, the kumu went forth to his own ceremonial cleansing bath in the sea.
From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Emerson, Nathaniel Bright
There was no musical instrument, the performers were men, and the mele they cantillated went as follows: A pili, a pili, A pili ka'u manu Ke kepau 485 o ka ulu-laau.
From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Emerson, Nathaniel Bright
The songs cantillated for the hula ala'a-papa were many and of great variety.
From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Emerson, Nathaniel Bright
The notes given below offer such a skeletal presentation of a song which the author heard cantillated by a skilled hula-master.
From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Emerson, Nathaniel Bright
In this performance both the olapa and the hoopaa cantillated the mele, while the latter squatted on the floor.
From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Emerson, Nathaniel Bright
Despite the vast altars on which networks make gruesome sacrifices while cantillating to their gods, neither of these shows will last forever.
From New York Times ● Oct. 11, 2017
Father Anshel was good at cantillating the Book of Esther but hopeless at making money.
From Time Magazine Archive
Now and then she would add her own low tones to our untrained vocalizing, crooning or cantillating the tune as if she were musing aloud.
From Memories of Jane Cunningham Croly, "Jenny June" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
