descant

American  

[des-kant, des-kant, dis-] / ˈdɛs kænt, dɛsˈkænt, dɪs- /

noun

1. Music.

   1. a melody or counterpoint accompanying a simple musical theme and usually written above it.

   2. (in part music) the soprano.

   3. a song or melody.

2. a variation upon anything; comment on a subject.

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adjective

1. Music (chiefly British).

   1. soprano.

      a descant recorder.

   2. treble.

      a descant viol.

verb (used without object)

1. Music. to sing.

2. to comment or discourse at great length.

descant British  

noun

1. Also: discant.  a decorative counterpoint added above a basic melody

2. a comment, criticism, or discourse

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adjective

1. Also: discant.  of or pertaining to the highest member in common use of a family of musical instruments

   a descant recorder

verb

1. Also: discant.  to compose or perform a descant (for a piece of music)

2. to discourse at length or make varied comments

Other Word Forms

• descanter
  noun

Etymology

Origin of descant

1350–1400; Middle English discant, descaunt < Anglo-French < Medieval Latin discanthus, equivalent to Latin dis- dis- ¹ + cantus song; see chant

Explanation

In music, a descant is an additional vocal part above the main melody. Many church hymns include a descant, sung at a higher pitch than the melody. Literary types use descant as a verb to mean "talk on and on in a dull way." In medieval times, a descant was an improvised tune that singers or musicians added to a fixed melody. The medieval Latin term was discantus, "refrain" or "part-song," from dis-, "apart," and cantus, "song or bird-song." Through the years, the word has been used for the soprano in a group of singers or the highest-pitched line in any song.

Example Sentences

Authorities identified the dead children as Joel Cloud and Jeremiah Warren, both 14; Cara Descant, 13; Briena Descant, 10; and Cierra Bordelan, 9.

From Seattle Times • May 27, 2021

Authorities identified the dead children as Joel Cloud and Warren, both 14; Cara Descant, 13; Briena Descant, 10; and Cierra Bordelan, 9.

From Washington Times • Jan. 6, 2019

The relationship between the Descant girls and the pastor was not immediately available.

From Washington Times • Jan. 6, 2019

The Plain-song is perhaps more often found in a lower part, the Descant being higher.

From Shakespeare and Music With Illustrations from the Music of the 16th and 17th centuries by Naylor, Edward W. (Edward Woodall)

Descant, des′kant, n. the air in a four-part song: a discourse or disquisition under several heads.—v.i.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various