- cancel
- late 14c., "cross out with lines," from Anglo-Fr. canceler, from L. cancellare "to make resemble a lattice," which in L.L. took on a sense "cross out something written" by marking it with crossed lines, from cancelli, pl. of cancellus "lattice, grating," dim. of cancer "crossed bars, lattice," a var. of carcer "prison." Figurative use, "to nullify an obligation" is from mid-15c. Related: Canceled (also cancelled); cancelling.