Lewis & Short

cantor, ōris, m. [cano], a singer, poet.

  1. I. In gen.: omnibus hoc vitium est cantoribus, Hor. S. 1, 3, 1; so id. ib. 1, 3, 129; 1, 2, 3 (mutato nomine cantorem pro musico dicit, Acron.): Thamyras, Prop. 2 (3), 22, 19: cantor Apollo, Hor. A. P. 407 (cf. Apollo): (Caligula) Threx et auriga idem cantor atque saltator, Suet. Calig. 54.
    In a contemptuous sense: cantor formularum, Cic. de Or. 1, 55, 236; cf. Plaut. Ps. 1, 3, 132.
    And with gen. of the person (conformably to cano, II. B.), an extoller, eulogist: cantores Euphorionis, Cic. Tusc. 3, 19, 45.
  2. II. Esp., in the lang. of the drama, = χορευτής, an actor, player (cf. G. Herm. Opusc. I. p. 298), Cic. Sest. 55, 118: donec cantor vos plaudite! dicat, Hor. A. P. 155; Suet. Calig. 54.