Canting

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. The act of speaking in a jargon or insincere manner may involve a form of elevated language that is often associated with a specific group or ideology
2. Engaging in the use of particular phrases or terms that are characteristic of a specific context or profession can indicate a level of pretentiousness in communication
3. A style of speaking that embodies both insincere moralizing and specialized vocabulary often reflects a desire to impress or persuade an audience rather than convey genuine meaning

Etymology: "Canting" is the present participle of "cant," but the verb's origin is the more interesting part. The participle form simply adds the suffix "-ing" to "cant," and that suffix has been used in English since Old English, descending through Middle English. The verb "cant" is the one that carries the surprise, because its ancestry is tangled and its meanings have drifted far from the wax-and-ink world of its earliest uses. The adjective here, describing speech loaded with jargon, reflects the sense of "cant" as a way of talking that signals membership in a group, and the idea of a special vocabulary that marks insiders from outsiders runs through the word's history.

Synonyms: hypocritical, sanctimonious, pious, insincere, feigned

Antonyms: sincere, genuine, honest, truthful, frank