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. Etymology: < the v.

   a comment; criticism; discourse

Etymology: 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

Etymology: ME discanten < the n.