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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for descant
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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