discant

American  

[dis-kant, dis-kant] / ˈdɪs kænt, dɪsˈkænt /

noun

1. Music. Also discantus a 13th-century polyphonic style with strict mensural meter in all the voice parts, in contrast to the metrically free organum of the period.

2. descant.

---

verb (used without object)

1. descant.

discant British  

noun

1. a variant of descant descant descant

---

verb

1. a variant of descant descant descant

Other Word Forms

• discanter noun

Etymology

Origin of discant

1400–50; late Middle English < Medieval Latin discanthus; descant

Example Sentences

Sit memor nostri, fideique solvat Fida mercedem, meritoque blandum Thraliae discant resonare nomen         Littora Skiae.

From Dr. Johnson's Works: Life, Poems, and Tales, Volume 1 The Works of Samuel Johnson, Ll.D., in Nine Volumes by Johnson, Samuel

The doctor protested his innocence of the deed, while the parson continued to discant upon the consequences that would result from the disfiguration of his features.

From The Life and Adventures of Maj. Roger Sherman Potter by Adams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)

But after describing all the joys of heaven, Brother Hans comes to the conclusion that a man knows about as much of celestial matters as an ox knows of discant singing.

From The Evolution of Love by Schleussner, Ellie

Du, Eberle aus Freiburg,     Du bist ein Musikant, Top-sawyer on de counterpoint     Und buster in discant, To dee de soul of musik     All innerly ish known, Du canst mit might fullenden     De art of orgel-ton.

From The Breitmann Ballads by Leland, Charles Godfrey

Cui accessit Pium diurnarum precum Enchiridion, ex quo pueri toto die cum Deo colloqui discant.

From Notes and Queries, Number 189, June 11, 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Bell, George