What is "cancelling"

Cancel \Can"cel\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Canceled or Cancelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Canceling or Cancelling.] [L. cancellare to make like a lattice, to strike or cross out (cf. Fr. canceller, OF. canceler) fr. cancelli lattice, crossbars, dim. of cancer lattice; cf. Gr. ? latticed gate. Cf. Chancel.]

1. To inclose or surround, as with a railing, or with latticework. [Obs.]

   A little obscure place canceled in with iron work is the pillar or stump at which . . . our Savior was scourged.
   --Evelyn.

2. To shut out, as with a railing or with latticework; to exclude. [Obs.] ``Canceled from heaven.''
   --Milton.

3. To cross and deface, as the lines of a writing, or as a word or figure; to mark out by a cross line; to blot out or obliterate.

   A deed may be avoided by delivering it up to be cancelled; that is, to have lines drawn over it in the form of latticework or cancelli; though the phrase is now used figuratively for any manner of obliterating or defacing it.
   --Blackstone.

4. To annul or destroy; to revoke or recall.

   The indentures were canceled.
   --Thackeray.

   He was unwilling to cancel the interest created through former secret services, by being refractory on this occasion.
   --Sir W. Scott.

5. (Print.) To suppress or omit; to strike out, as matter in type.

   Canceled figures (Print), figures cast with a line across the face., as for use in arithmetics.

   Syn: To blot out; obliterate; deface; erase; efface; expunge; annul; abolish; revoke; abrogate; repeal; destroy; do away; set aside. See Abolish.

alt. (present participle of cancel English) vb. (present participle of cancel English)

1. n. a notation cancelling a previous sharp or flat [syn: natural]

2. [also: cancelling, cancelled]

1. v. postpone indefinitely or annul something that was scheduled; "Call off the engagement"; "cancel the dinner party" [syn: call off]

2. make up for; "His skills offset his opponent's superior strength" [syn: offset, set off]

3. declare null and void; make ineffective; "Cancel the election results"; "strike down a law" [syn: strike down]

4. remove or make invisible; "Please delete my name from your list" [syn: delete]

5. of cheques or tickets [syn: invalidate]

6. [also: cancelling, cancelled]

See cancel