descant

[ noun adjective des-kant; verb des-kant, dis- ]

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.

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

noun

1. Alsodiscant a decorative counterpoint added above a basic melody
2. a comment, criticism, or discourse

adjective

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

   a descant recorder

verb

1. Alsodiscant often foll byon or upon to compose or perform a descant (for a piece of music)
2. often foll byon or upon to discourse at length or make varied comments

Derived Forms

• desˈcanter, noun

Other Words From

• des·canter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of descant¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of descant¹

C14: from Old Northern French, from Medieval Latin discantus, from Latin dis- ¹+ cantus song; see chant

Example Sentences

For much of the show, Fischer, a powerhouse vocalist best known as a backup singer, sticks to wordless descant, humming and oohing on top of and around the other music.

From New York Times

Will the protagonist, who loves to “descant on mine own deformity,” make us see anew the premium that society places on women’s appearances?

From New York Times

For seven decades, Katz has been providing a visual descant to the work of the New York School of poets, many of whom were his friends.

From Washington Post

Birds provided an intermittent descant to the insect buzz and the drone of a distant tractor.

From Washington Post

Attention is naturally drawn to high notes, so a part that is higher than the melody is sometimes given a special name such as "descant."

From Literature