cantĭo, ōnis, f. [cano, lit. a singing, playing; hence meton. abstr. pro concr.].
I A song (rare; mostly ante-class.), Plaut. Stich. 5, 4, 25; 5, 5, 19; 5, 6, 8; Suet. Ner. 25; of birds, Ap. Flor. 2, p. 349, 11; Fronto ad Ver. 1 (cf. cantatio).—
II An incantation , charm , spell , Cato R. R. 160: subito totam causam oblitus est, idque veneficiis et cantionibus Titiniae factum dicebat, Cic. Brut. 60, 217; Ap. Met. 1, 10, 4.