I.the production of melodious sound, a musical utterance or expression, either with voice or instrument; hence, song, singing, playing, music (while carmen is prop. the contents or substance of the song, etc.; cf.: “qui enim cantus moderatā oratione dulcior invenire potest? Quod carmen artificiosā conclusione aptius?” Cic. de Or. 2, 8, 34).
I. In gen.
A. Of persons.
1. With the voice, a singing, song; in full, cantus vocum, Cic. Rosc. Am. 46, 134: “fit etiam saepe vocum gravitate et cantibus ut pellantur animi, etc.,” id. Div. 1, 36, 80: “cantus vocis juvat sociatā nervorum concordiā,” Quint. 5, 10, 124: “oris,” id. 11, 3, 23: “Sirenum,” Cic. Fin. 5, 18, 49; Quint. 5, 8, 1; cf. Juv. 9, 150: “comissationes, cantus, symphoniae,” Cic. Cael. 15, 35; Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 13, § 31; id. Fin. 5, 18, 49; Lucr. 5, 1406: “felices cantus ore sonante dedit,” Tib. 3, 4, 40: “cantu tremulo (i.e. voce anili),” Hor. C. 4, 13, 5: “praecipe lugubres Cantus,” id. ib. 1, 24, 3: “longum cantu solata laborem,” Verg. G. 1, 293; cf.: “est etiam in dicendo quidam cantus obscurior,” musical play of voice, Cic. Or. 17, 57.—
2. With instruments, a playing, music: “in nervorum vocumque cantibus,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 2, 4; id. Rosc. Am. 46, 134: “citharae,” Hor. C. 3, 1, 20: “horribili stridebat tibia cantu,” Cat. 64, 264: “querulae tibiae,” Hor. C. 3, 7, 30: “dulcis tibia cantu,” Tib. 1, 7, 47: “bucinarum,” Cic. Mur. 9, 22: “simul ac tubarum est auditus cantus,” Liv. 25, 24, 5: “lyrae,” Plin. 34, 8, 19, § 72: “tibicines, qui fidibus utuntur, suo arbitrio cantus numerosque moderantur,” Cic. Tusc. 5, 36, 104: “cantu tubarum convocare concilium, Auct. B. G. 8, 20: raucisonoque mi-nantur cornua cantu,” Lucr. 2, 619: “rauco strepuerunt cornua cantu,” Verg. A. 8, 2.— “Of an actor: tardiores tibicinis modos et cantus remissiores facere,” Cic. de Or. 1, 60, 254.—
B. Of birds, etc.: “raucisoni cantus,” Lucr. 5, 1084: “cantus avium et volatus,” Cic. Div. 1, 42, 94; Hor. C. 3, 1, 20; App. Flor. 2, p. 349: “volucrum,” Quint. 10, 3, 24.—Of the nightingale, Phaedr. 3, 18, 2; Plin. 10, 29, 43, § 81.—Of the cock, a crowing: (galli) favent faucibus russis cantu plausuque premunt alas, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 2, 26, 57 (Trag. Rel. v. 251 Vahl.); Cic. Mur. 9, 22; id. Div. 2, 26, 56: “sub galli cantum,” at daybreak, cock-crowing, Hor. S. 1, 1, 10: “vigil ales cristati cantibus oris Evocat Auroram,” Ov. M. 11, 597; Plin. 10, 21, 24, § 46; Quint. 11, 3, 51: “fulix fundens e gutture cantus, Cic. Div, poët. 1, 8, 14: perdix testata gaudia cantu est,” Ov. M. 8, 238: “seros exercet noctua cantus,” Verg. G. 1, 403: “(cycni) cantus dedere,” id. A. 1, 398.—
II. Esp.
A. Prophetic or oracular song: “veridicos Parcae coeperunt edere cantus,” Cat. 64, 306; cf. Tib. 1, 8, 4.—
B. An incantation, charm, magic song, etc.: cantusque artesque magorum. Ov. M. 7, 195; 7, 201: “at cantu commotae Erebi de sedibus imis Umbrae ibant,” Verg. G. 4, 471: “magici,” Col. 10, 367: “Haemoniis agitare cantibus umbras,” Val. Fl. 6, 448: “amores Cantibus solvere,” Tib. 1, 2, 60; 1, 2, 45; 1, 2, 53: “cantus e curru Lunam deducere tentat,” id. 1, 8, 19; 4, 1, 63; 4, 4, 10; Ov. H. 12, 167; id. M. 4, 49.
