Definition of chant

The word "chant" originates from the Middle English word "chanteren," which in turn originated from the Old French word "chantar." The Old French word can be traced back to the Latin word "cantare," which means "to sing." In the Middle Ages, "chant" referred specifically to the sacred music used in religious ceremonies. These chants were often sung by a group of trained singers called "chapels." Over time, the meaning of the word has expanded to include any type of singing or recitation that is performed repetitively, often for a meditative or contemplative purpose. This includes chants used in spiritual practices such as Buddhism and Sufism, as well as chants used in secular contexts, such as sporting events or political rallies. In modern French and English, the word "chant" is used to describe both religious and secular singing, while the word "gregorian" is used to describe the specific type of religious chant associated with Gregorian chants, which were developed in the medieval monasteries of the Benedictine Order. In summary, the word "chant" comes from the Latin word for "sing" and has retained its meaning of singing or recitation, whether in a religious or secular context, over the course of several centuries.