/keuhn tah"teuh/ , n.
1. a choral composition, either sacred and resembling a short oratorio or secular, as a lyric drama set to music but not to be acted.
2. a metrical narrative set to recitative or alternate recitative and air, usually for a single voice accompanied by one or more instruments.
[ 1715-25; cant ( are ) to sing (see CANT 1 ) + -ata -ATE 1 ]