dē-canto, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. (in the class. per. freq. in Cic.; elsewh. rare).
I To sing a thing off, to repeat in a singing manner (v. cano and canto).
A Usually with the secondary idea of something trite, worn out, absurd; to repeat often, to say over and over again ( = semper repetere, in ore habere; cf. cantilena): nec mihi opus est Graeco aliquo doctore, qui mihi pervulgata praecepta decantet, Cic. de Or. 2, 18, 75: causas, id. ib. 2, 32, 140; id. Fin. 4, 4, 10; id. Att. 13, 34; Quint. 12, 8, 3; Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 64 al.—
B Without this unfavorable idea: miserabiles elegos, Hor. Od. 1, 33, 3: Ἅλωσιν Ilii in scenico habitu, to recite, rehearse , * Suet. Ner. 38: tribus, to proclaim , Luc. 5, 394.—
C Esp., to repeat as a charm , and hence to bewitch, enchant, charm : nullo decantatus carmine, Ap. Met. 3, 22, 2; verbis et amplexibus aliquem, id. ib. 5, 13, 17; id. ib. 3, 18, 1; Vulg. Isa. 54, 1 al.—
II Intr.
A ( Acc. to de, no. II. 2. b.) To leave off singing : jam decantaverant ( = cantare, deplorare desierant), had given over lamenting , Cic. Tusc. 3, 22, 53.—
B To play (upon an instrument): decantandi jus tibicinibus ademit, Aur. Vict. Vir. Illust. 34, 1.