Chant, Enchant and Incantation Share a Root
To chant is to sing or say something rhythmically. The Latin verb behind it, to sing, also produced enchant and incantation.
To chant is to sing or repeat words rhythmically, often on a single note. The Latin *cantare*, to sing, produced a whole family: *chant*, *enchant*, *incantation*, *cantata* and *charm* all rest on the idea that singing does something. To enchant someone was originally to sing a spell over them. In music, plainchant or Gregorian chant is the unaccompanied single-line singing of the medieval church.
- To sing rhythmically. *The monks chanted.*
- A repeated shout. *The crowd's chant.*
- Plainchant — medieval church singing. *Gregorian chant.*
- Enchant — from the same root. *Utterly enchanted.*
- Incantation — a spoken spell. *A muttered incantation.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | chant | They chanted. |
| Noun | chant | A football chant. |
| Noun | chanting | Constant chanting. |
| Related | enchant | To enchant. |
| Latin | cantare | To sing. |
- The crowd chanted his name.Sport.
- Gregorian chant uses a single melodic line.Music.
- Cantare means to sing.Etymology.
The cantare family
- Chant — to sing rhythmically
- Enchant — originally to sing a spell over someone
- Incantation — the spell itself
- Cantata — a sung composition
- Charm — from *carmen*, a song or spell, the same idea
Old French *chanter*, from Latin *cantare*, to sing, a frequentative of *canere*. English recorded it from the 1300s.
What is plainchant?
Unaccompanied single-line singing used in medieval Christian worship, of which Gregorian chant is the best-known form.
Is enchant related to chant?
Yes. To enchant meant to sing a spell over someone. Both come from Latin cantare, to sing.