When your slightly tipsy uncle starts bellowing "Some Enchanted Evening," he's actually singing in more ways than one.

That's because the word "enchanted" derives from "cantus," the past participle of the Latin verb "cantare," meaning "to sing."

"Cantus" entered English as "chant" (to sing in a monotonous, repetitive way). Because witches often used chants to cast magical spells, "enchant" came to mean "to bewitch" and later "to enthrall, to charm." In fact, the word "charm" itself derives from a Latin variant of "cantare": "carmen" (a song or verse).

When it comes to incorporating the Latin root "cant" into words, English (to borrow another Rodgers and Hammerstein lyric) is "just a girl who 'cant' say no."

"Cantus" shows up as "chant" in "chanteuse" (a female singer), "chantey" (a sailors' song), and "chanticleer" (a rooster who "sings" each morning), and as "cant" in "cantabile" (in a singing manner), "cantata" (a musical composition for one or more voices), "descant" (a melody or countermelody) and "cantor" (a synagogue official who sings).

It also gives us "cant," meaning "insincere words, trite opinions or jargon." That's because such talk reminded someone of the repetitious, sing-song quality of a musical refrain. And a person who withdraws or renounces the cant he has previously uttered is said to "recant."

"Cantus" even lurks incognito as "cent" in "accent" and "incentive." "Accent" (from the Latin "ad-" + "cantus") originally meant "song added to speech" and later came to mean "a distinctive tone or emphasis."

"Incentive" comes from "incinere" (from the Latin "in-" + "cantare"), which meant "to set the tune." So an "incentive" is a reward that, like a stirring piece of music, sets the tune and motivates you to take action.

You might assume, as I did, that "canary," denoting the yellow bird that sings so readily and musically, also comes from "cantare." In fact, this small finch takes its name from the Latin word for "dog."

When Roman sailors first landed on an island in an archipelago off the coast of West Africa and encountered many wild dogs there, they named the island and its neighbors "the Canaria," from "canis," the Latin word for "dog."

So the archipelago became known as the "Canary Islands," and the small finches who live there were called "canaries." This may explain why your uncle, who tries to sing like a canary, sounds more like a dog.

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Conn., invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via e-mail to [email protected] or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.