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; chant