descant

(deskant′; for v., also des kant)

noun

  1. Medieval Music
    1. two-part singing in which there is a fixed, known melody and an additional but subordinate melody that is higher in pitch
    2. this added upper melody
    3. the highest voice in polyphonic singing, as the treble or soprano
  2. a varied song or melody
  3. Origin: < the v.

    a comment; criticism; discourse

Origin: ME < Anglo-Fr deschaunt & ML discantus < L dis-, from, apart + cantus, song: see chant

intransitive verb

  1. to talk or write at length; comment expansively; discourse (on or upon)
  2. to sing or play a descant to the main melody
  3. to sing

Origin: ME discanten < the n.

See descant in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. also dis·cant (dĭsˈ-) Music
    a. An ornamental melody or counterpoint sung or played above a theme.
    b. The highest part sung in part music.
  2. A discussion or discourse on a theme.
intransitive verb (dĕsˈkăntˌ, dĕ-skăntˈ) des·cant·ed, des·cant·ing, des·cants
  1. To comment at length; discourse: “He used to descant critically on the dishes which had been at table” (James Boswell).
  2. also dis·cant (dĭsˈkăntˌ, dĭ-skăntˈ) Music
    a. To sing or play a descant.
    b. To sing melodiously.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Anglo-Norman descaunt

Origin: , from Medieval Latin discantus, a refrain

Origin: : Latin dis-, dis-

Origin: + Latin cantus, song

Origin: , from

Origin: past participle of canere, to sing; see kan- in Indo-European roots

.

Related Forms:

  • desˈcantˌer noun

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