Where does “chanting” come from?
Chanting comes from the English gerund suffix -ing added to chant, which derives from Middle English chanten, from Old English -ing, ultimately from Latin cantāre meaning to sing.
chanting (English): present participle of chant; Singing, especially...
Definitions
- present participle of chant; Singing, especially...
Ancestry of “chanting”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | chauntynge | chanting |
| 2 | Middle English | chaunten | To chant |
| 3 | Old French | chanter | to pray; to sing; to retell, to recount |
| 4 | Latin | cantō | to enchant, or call forth by charms, chant |
| 5 | Latin | canō | to sing, recite, play |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | kanō | to sing |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | kanô | vessel, vat, tub; boat |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gan- | a vessel, tub; a vessel, vat, tub |