Definitions of descant [ˈsɔlt]

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Definition of 'descant'

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

1. (n.) descant
a melody or counterpoint accompanying a simple musical theme and usu. written above it.

2.  descant
(in part music) the soprano.

3.  descant
a song or melody.

4.  descant
a commentary upon a subject.

5. (v.i.) descant
to discourse at great length.

Etymology: (1350–1400; ME discant, descaunt < AF < ML discanthus= L dis-dis -¹+cantus song)

Definition of 'descant'

Princeton's WordNet

1. (verb) descant, discant
a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody

2. (verb) descant
sing in descant

3. (verb) yodel, warble, descant
sing by changing register; sing by yodeling
"The Austrians were yodeling in the mountains"

4. (verb) descant
talk at great length about something of one's interest

Definition of 'descant'

Webster Dictionary

1. (verb) descant
originally, a double song; a melody or counterpoint sung above the plain song of the tenor; a variation of an air; a variation by ornament of the main subject or plain song

2. (verb) descant
the upper voice in part music

3. (verb) descant
the canto, cantus, or soprano voice; the treble

4. (verb) descant
a discourse formed on its theme, like variations on a musical air; a comment or comments

5. (verb) descant
to sing a variation or accomplishment

6. (verb) descant
to comment freely; to discourse with fullness and particularity; to discourse at large

'descant' - Nearby Entries
de saussure desalt descale descant descant on descartes descendant

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