I. Lit., a song in the Roman comedy, sung by one person, and accompanied by music and dancing; a monody, solo: “nosti canticum (in Demiurgo Turpilii), meministi Roscium,” Cic. Fam. 9, 22, 1: “agere,” Liv. 7, 2, 9: “desaltare,” Suet. Calig. 54: “histrio in cantico quodam,” id. Ner. 39: “Neroniana,” id. Vit. 11: “Atellanis notissimum canticum exorsis,” id. Galb. 13.—
II. A song, in gen.: “chorus canticum Insonuit,” Phaedr. 5, 7, 25: “canticum repetere,” id. 5, 7, 31: “omne convivium obscenis canticis strepit,” Quint. 1, 2, 8; 1, 10, 23; cf. id. 1, 8, 2; 1, 12, 14; 9, 2, 35; 11, 3, 13.—
2. Esp. Canticum Canticorum, the Song of Songs, the Canticles, Vulg.—Hence,
B. A singing tone in the delivery of an orator, Cic. Or. 18, 57; Plin. Ep. 2, 14, 13; cf. Quint. 1, 8, 2; 11, 3, 13.—
III. A lampoon, a libellous song, Paul. Sent. 5, 4, 15; cf. App. Mag. 75, p. 322, 8.—
B. A magic formula, incantation, App. Mag. p. 301, 12.
