| 释义 |
† sinˈcanter Obs.
Forms: α. 6 cenkanter, 6–7 sinckanter, 7 sinkanter, sincaunter. β. 6–7 singcantor, 7 sincantor.
[Of obscure origin; the β-forms have been assimilated to sing and cantor. The variants cinque-cater, cincater, etc. (see examples under cinquanter), are no doubt due to association with the dicing terms cinque and quatre.]
A contemptuous or depreciatory term applied to men, usually with the epithet old. Also attrib. (quot. c 1540).
αc1540Pilgrim's Tale 708 in Thynne's Animadv. App. (1865) 97 The good yo[u]th..leuis the slechy podell, full of frogis, to the old cenkanter phariziecall dogis. 1596Nashe Saffron Walden Epistle Ded. C 2, Being sent for to some tall old sinckanter, or stigmaticall bearded Master of Arte. 1597G. Harvey Trimming of T. Nashe Wks. (Grosart) III. 41 Then thou callest them sinckanters, which is a proper Epithite vnto thy-selfe, for Sinckanter commeth of sincke and antrum a hole. 1601Munday Downfall Earl of Huntingdon v. i. K j, A plague on ye for a blinde sinksanker [sic]. 1611Cotgr., Rocard, a hoarse mouldichaps, an ouerworne sincaunter, one that can neither whinnie, nor wag the taile. 1617Collins Def. Bp. Ely ii. x. 410 He would conjure you into a boote, or into a bench⁓hole for your labour, like a sawcy Sinckanter. a1640Jackson Creed x. xix, One Volanerius an old Sinkanter or Gamester and Scurrilous Companion by profession.
β1581Hanmer Jesuites Banner E j b, It should appeare M. Censurer, that yee are but a nouice: you were best confer with the old singcantors, and learn further of their order. 1656Blount Glossogr., Succentor, he that singeth the Base... Our phrase, an old Sincantor, is either a corruption from this word; or if it be written with a C, then tis from the Fr. Cinquante,..and so may be taken for one that is fifty years of age or above. 1672R. Wild Lett. 8 And now I talk of the old Singcantor [the Pope], our Gracious King is worth all the Clements in Christendom. |