(v. n.v. n.) : canto, āvi, ātum, 1, v. n. and
* A. [cano], freq. in form, but mostly agrees in meaning with cano.
* Neutr., to produce melodious sounds (by the voice or an instrument), to sound, sing, play (class. in prose and poetry; rare in Cic.).
* Of men: Pamphilam Cantatum provocemus,Ter. Eun. 3, 1, 53: saltare et cantare,Cic. Cat. 2, 10, 23: neque enim vocum suavitate videntur aut novitate quădam cantandi revocare eos solitae (sirenes),id. Fin. 5, 18, 49: Arcades ambo Et cantare pares,Verg. E. 7, 5; 10, 32: cantando victus,id. ib. 3, 21; Tib. 2, 1, 66: adimam cantare severis,Hor. Ep. 1, 19, 9: ut (cantores) numquam inducant animum cantare rogati,id. S. 1, 3, 2; Suet. Tit. 3: non est Cantandum, there is no occasion for singing, i. e. for imagination, fiction, Juv. 4, 35.—Of an actor: cantante eo (Nerone) ne necessariă quidem causă excedere theatro licitum erat,Suet. Ner. 23; 20; id. Vesp. 4 al.; cf. under II. B. 2.: conducta veni, ut fidibus cantarem seni,Plaut. Ep. 3, 4, 64: structis avenis,Ov. M. 1, 677: ad chordarum sonum,Nep. Epam. 2, 1.—Less freq. of instrumental music, and only with abl. of the instrument (cf. cano): tibiis,Nep. Epam. 2, 1; id. ib. praef. § 1; Vulg. Luc. 7, 32: lituo, tubă,Gell. 20, 2, 2: calamo,Sen. Ben. 4, 6, 5: ad manum histrioni, in comedy, to sing and play while the actor accompanies the song with gestures or dancing, Liv. 7, 2, 10; cf. Val. Max. 2, 4, 4.—Pass. impers.: in caelo cantatur et psallitur,Arn. 3, 21.—Prov.: surdo,Prop. 4 (5), 8, 47. and ad surdas aures, Ov. Am. 3, 7, 61, to preach to deaf ears; cf. cano, II. B.
* Act., to make some person or thing the subject of one's singing, playing, or song (cf. cano, II.).
* Of birds and fowls: prius quam galli cantent,crow,Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 96; so, deos gallis signum dedisse cantandi,Cic. Div. 2, 26, 57: cantantes aves,Prop. 4 (5), 9, 30.
* In the lang. of religion, as v. n. or a., to use enchantments, charms, incantations, to enchant, to charm, Cato, R. R. 160, 1; Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 27: frigidus in pratis cantando rumpitur anguis,Verg. E. 8, 71: cantata Luna,exorcised by magic,Prop. 4 (5), 5, 13. falx,Ov. H. 6, 84: herbae,id. M. 7, 98: ignis,Sil. 1, 430: tum quoque cantato densetur carmine caelum,an incantation,Ov. M. 14, 369.
* With the song itself, carmen, versus, etc., as object, to sing, play, recite: carmina non prius Audita canto,Hor. C. 3, 1, 4: rustica verba,Tib. 2, 1, 52: Hymen cantatus,Ov. H. 12, 137; cf.: Hymenaeum qui cantent,Ter. Ad. 5, 7, 7: obscena,Ov. F. 3, 676.
* With particular persons or things, the subjects of song, as objects, to sing, to celebrate or praise in song, sing of, write poetry upon, etc.: celebrem deum,Tib. 2, 1, 83: absentem amicam,Hor. S. 1, 5, 15: rivos,id. C. 2, 19, 11: convivia, proelia virginum,id. ib. 1, 6, 19: Augusti tropaea,id. ib. 2, 9, 19: Pythia (sc. certamina),id. A. P. 414: cantari dignus,Verg. E. 5, 54: per totum cantabimur orbem,Ov. Am. 1, 3, 25; 2, 17, 33; cf.: illa meis multum cantata libellis,Mart. 9, 50, 1: cantatus Achilles,Ov. Am. 2, 1, 29: laudes tuas,id. F. 2, 658. —Esp.
* Of an actor, to represent a part, to act (cf. supra, I. A.): cantavit (Nero) Orestem matricidam, Oedipodem excaecatum, etc.,Suet. Ner. 21: Nioben,id. ib. 21: tragoedias,id. ib. 21: fabulam,id. ib. 46 fin.: epinicia,id. ib. 43 fin.
* Hence, because the oracles were of old uttered in verse, of any mysterious, prophetic, or warning utterance, to predict, warn, point out, indicate, make known, say: vera cantas? vana vellem,Plaut. Most. 4, 2, 64. —Of inanimate things: urna haec litterata est: ab se cantat cuja sit,Plaut. Rud. 2, 5, 21: civi inmoeni scin quid cantari solet?id. Trin. 2, 2, 69; id. Bacch. 4, 9, 61.
* To bring something repeatedly to recollection, to reiterate, harp upon, forewarn of or against: haec dies noctes canto, ut caveas,Plaut. Trin. 2, 2, 12: harum mores,Ter. Heaut. 2, 3, 19: nam, ut scis, jam pridem istum canto Caesarem,Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 11 (13), 1: quid fati provida cantet avis,Tib. 2, 5, 12: quae me juvene utique cantare solebant,Quint. 8, 3, 76.
* To call forth, produce by charms: et chelydris cantare soporem,Sil. 8, 498: cantata umbra,Luc. 6, 767.

s. TLL