descant

des·cant  (dsknt)

n.

1. also dis·cant (ds-) Music

a. An ornamental melody or counterpoint sung or played above a theme.

b. The highest part sung in part music.

2. A discussion or discourse on a theme.

intr.v. (dsknt, d-sknt) des·cant·ed, des·cant·ing, des·cants

1. To comment at length; discourse: "He used to descant critically on the dishes which had been at table" (James Boswell).

2. also dis·cant (dsknt, d-sknt) Music

a. To sing or play a descant.

b. To sing melodiously.

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[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman descaunt, from Medieval Latin discantus, a refrain : Latin dis-, dis- + Latin cantus, song, from past participle of canere, to sing; see kan- in Indo-European roots.]

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descanter n.

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descant

n [ˈdɛskænt ˈdɪs-]

1. (Music, other) Also called discant a decorative counterpoint added above a basic melody

2. a comment, criticism, or discourse

adj [ˈdɛskænt ˈdɪs-]

(Music / Instruments) Also discant of or pertaining to the highest member in common use of a family of musical instruments a descant recorder

vb [dɛsˈkænt dɪs-] (intr)

1. (Music, other) Also discant (often foll by on or upon) to compose or perform a descant (for a piece of music)

2. (often foll by on or upon) to discourse at length or make varied comments

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

descanter  n

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	descant - a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody discant musical accompaniment, accompaniment, backup, support - a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts
Verb	1.	descant - sing in descant sing - produce tones with the voice; "She was singing while she was cooking"; "My brother sings very well"
	2.	descant - sing by changing register; sing by yodeling; "The Austrians were yodeling in the mountains" yodel, warble sing - produce tones with the voice; "She was singing while she was cooking"; "My brother sings very well"
	3.	descant - talk at great length about something of one's interest discourse, discuss, talk about - to consider or examine in speech or writing; "The author talks about the different aspects of this question"; "The class discussed Dante's `Inferno'"

Translations

descant [ˈdeskænt] N (Mus) → contrapunto m

descant [ˈdɛskænt] n (MUSIC) → déchant m

descant

n (Mus) → Diskant m; descant recorder → Sopranflöte f

vi → sich auslassen or verbreiten (→ upon über +acc), → ausgiebig kommentieren

descant [ˈdɛskænt] n (Mus) → discanto

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descant [ˈdɛskænt] n (Mus) → discanto