Pre-cĕn’tor, n.

n. [Lat., from præcinere, to sing before, from præ, before, and canere, to sing, cantor, a singer; It. precentore, Fr. precentour and prêchantre.] A leader of music; a directing singer; as, (a.) The leader of the choir in a cathedral;—called also the chanter or master of the choir. Hook. (b.) The leader of the congregation in the psalmody of Scottish churches.