descant
pronunciation
How to pronounce descant in British English:
UK [ˈdeskænt]
How to pronounce descant in American English:
US ['deskænt]
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- Noun:
- a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody
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- Verb:
- sing in descant
- sing by changing register; sing by yodeling
- talk at great length about something of one's interest
Word Origin
- descant
- descant: [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 originally underlying it is of a separate vocal line ‘apart’ from the main musical theme. The Middle English form of the word was deschaunt; descant represents a partial 16th-century reversion to Latin discantus.=> canto, chant
- descant (n.)
- late 14c., from Old North French descant (Old French deschant), from Medieval Latin discantus "refrain, part-song," from Latin dis- "asunder, apart" (see dis-) + cantus "song" (see chant). Spelling was partly Latinized 16c. Originally "counterpoint."
- descant (v.)
- mid-15c.; see descant (n.). Sense of "to comment at length" is first attested 1640s.
Example
- 1. To sing or play a descant .
- 2. The boy singers were asked to descant on the tune .
- 3. You need not descant upon my shortcomings .
- 4. He is going to descant on the beauties of the scene .
- 5. Descant endlessly on the government 's failings .