Descant Definition

dĕskănt
descants
noun
descants
In medieval music,
Webster's New World
A varied song or melody.
Webster's New World
The highest part sung in part music.
American Heritage
A comment; criticism; discourse.
Webster's New World
verb
descants
To talk or write at length; comment expansively; discourse (on or upon)
Webster's New World
To sing or play a descant to the main melody.
Webster's New World
To sing.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Descant

Noun

Singular:
descant
Plural:
descants

Origin of Descant

  • Middle English from Anglo-Norman descaunt from Medieval Latin discantus a refrain Latin dis- dis- Latin cantus song (from past participle of canere to sing kan- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Anglo-Norman descaunt, from Medieval Latin discantus.

    From Wiktionary

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