Descant
11descant — [14] Etymologically, descant is a parallel formation to English part song. English acquired it via Old French deschant from medieval Latin discantus ‘refrain’, a compound noun formed from the prefix dis ‘apart’ and cantus ‘song’. The notion… …
12descant — [[t]de̱skænt[/t]] descants N COUNT A descant is a tune which is played or sung above the main tune in a piece of music. An elderly woman, arms crossed, sang the descant …
13descant — UK [ˈdeskænt] / US [ˈdeˌskænt] noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms descant : singular descant plural descants music a second tune that is higher than the main tune in a piece of music …
14descant — noun /ˈdɛskænt / (say deskant) Also, discant. 1. Music a. a melody or counterpoint accompanying a simple musical theme and usually written above it: *Both women sang the song improvising a descant and in the end achieving, because of not keeping… …
15descant — [14] Etymologically, descant is a parallel formation to English part song. English acquired it via Old French deschant from medieval Latin discantus ‘refrain’, a compound noun formed from the prefix dis ‘apart’ and cantus ‘song’. The notion… …
16descant — n. & v. n. 1 Mus. an independent treble melody usu. sung or played above a basic melody, esp. of a hymn tune. 2 poet. a melody; a song. v.intr. 1 (foll. by on, upon) talk lengthily and prosily, esp. in praise of. 2 Mus. sing or play a descant.… …
17descant on — verb sing a descant on a main tune or melody • Hypernyms: ↑sing • Verb Frames: Somebody s something They will descant on the duet …
18descant — I. noun also discant Etymology: Middle English dyscant, from Anglo French & Medieval Latin; Anglo French descaunt, from Medieval Latin discantus, from Latin dis + cantus song more at chant Date: 14th century 1. a. a melody or counterpoint sung… …
19descant — 1. noun a) A lengthy discourse on a subject b) a counterpoint melody sung or played above the theme 2. verb a) To discuss at le …
20Descant (journal) — Descant   Language English Edited by Karen Mulhallen Publication details P …
