I. ˈkan(t)-səl verb
( -celed or -celled ; -cel·ing or can·cel·ling -s(ə-)liŋ)
Etymology: Middle English cancellen, from Anglo-French canceller, chanceller, from Late Latin cancellare, from Latin, to make like a lattice, from cancelli (plural), diminutive of cancer lattice, probably alteration of carcer prison
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to destroy the force, effectiveness, or validity of : annul
cancel a magazine subscription
a cancel ed check
b. : to bring to nothingness : destroy
c. : to match in force or effect : offset — often used with out
his irritability cancel ed out his natural kindness — Osbert Sitwell
d. : to call off usually without expectation of conducting or performing at a later time
cancel a football game
2.
a. : to mark or strike out for deletion
b. : omit , delete
3.
a. : to remove (a common divisor) from numerator and denominator
b. : to remove (equivalents) on opposite sides of an equation or account
4. : to deface (a postage or revenue stamp) especially with a set of ink lines so as to invalidate for reuse
intransitive verb
: to neutralize each other's strength or effect : counterbalance
• can·cel·able or can·cel·la·ble -s(ə-)lə-bəl adjective
• can·cel·er or can·cel·ler -s(ə-)lər noun
II. noun
Date: 1806
1. : cancellation
2.
a. : a deleted part or passage
b.
(1) : a leaf containing matter to be deleted
(2) : a new leaf or slip substituted for matter already printed