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descant
[ noun, adjective des-kant; verb des-kant, dis- ]
/ noun, adjective ˈdɛs kænt; verb dɛsˈkænt, dɪs- /
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noun
Music.
- a melody or counterpoint accompanying a simple musical theme and usually written above it.
- (in part music) the soprano.
- a song or melody.
a variation upon anything; comment on a subject.
adjective
Music (chiefly British).
- soprano: a descant recorder.
- treble: a descant viol.
verb (used without object)
Music. to sing.
to comment or discourse at great length.
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Also discant.
Origin of descant
OTHER WORDS FROM descant
des·cant·er, nounWords nearby descant
desaturated, desaturation, desc., descale, descamisado, descant, Descartes, Descartes' law, Descartes, René, descend, descendant
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use descant in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for descant
descant
noun (ˈdɛskænt, ˈdɪs-)
Also: discant a decorative counterpoint added above a basic melody
a comment, criticism, or discourse
adjective (ˈdɛskænt, ˈdɪs-)
Also: discant of or pertaining to the highest member in common use of a family of musical instrumentsa descant recorder
verb (dɛsˈkænt, dɪs-) (intr)
Also: discant (often foll by on or upon) to compose or perform a descant (for a piece of music)
(often foll by on or upon) to discourse at length or make varied comments
Derived forms of descant
descanter, nounWord Origin for descant
C14: from Old Northern French, from Medieval Latin discantus, from Latin dis- 1 + cantus song; see chant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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