English
incant
Incant comes from Latin incantō ‘to consecrate with spells’, from cantō ‘synonym of canō’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n- ‘to sing’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*keh₂n-‘to sing’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂nétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kanō‘to sing’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcanō‘to sing, recite, play’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcantō‘synonym of canō’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEincantō‘to consecrate with spells’
- Englishearliest quotation 2012incant
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*keh₂n-‘to sing’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂nétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kanō‘to sing’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcanō‘to sing, recite, play’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcantō‘synonym of canō’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEincantō‘to consecrate with spells’
- Englishearliest quotation 2012incant
Earliest quotation: 2012, David Walliams pseudonym; David Edward W, Ratburger: “Did you speak, child?” she whispered, as if she…”
first attested First attested in 1546 (as stated in the etymology)
The story
First attested in 1546; borrowed from Latin incantō.
Linked words
through Latin canō ‘to sing, recite, play’
accent, incentive, chanting, bazooka, enchantment, cantor, chanson, chantry, enchanter, chanter, canticle, 42 more
through Latin cantō ‘synonym of canō’
chant, shanty, recant, 10 more
through Latin incantō ‘to consecrate with spells’
Today it means
verb To state solemnly, to chant.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n- / incant