What does descant mean?
Definitions for descant
ˈdɛs kænt; dɛsˈkænt, dɪs-des·cant
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word descant.
Princeton's WordNet
descant, discantverb
a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody
descantverb
sing in descant
yodel, warble, descantverb
sing by changing register; sing by yodeling
"The Austrians were yodeling in the mountains"
descantverb
talk at great length about something of one's interest
Wiktionary
descantnoun
A lengthy discourse on a subject
descantnoun
a counterpoint melody sung or played above the theme
descantverb
To discuss at length.
descantverb
To sing or play a descant.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
DESCANTnoun
Etymology: discanto, Italian.
Nay, now you are too flat,
And mar the concord with too harsh a descant. William Shakespeare.The wakeful nightingale
All night long her amorous descant sung. John Milton, Par. Lost.Look you get a prayer-book in your hand,
And stand between two churchmen, good my lord;
For on that ground I’ll build a holy descant. William Shakespeare, Rich. III.Such kindness would supplant our unkind reportings, and severe descants upon our brethren. Government of the Tongue.
To Descantverb
Etymology: from the noun.
Why I, in this weak piping time of peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time;
Unless to spy my shadow in the sun,
And descant on mine own deformity. William Shakespeare, Richard III.Com’st thou for this, vain boaster, to survey me,
To descant on my strength, and give thy verdict? John Milton.A virtuous man should be pleased to find people descanting upon his actions, because, when they are thoroughly canvassed and examined, they turn to his honour. Joseph Addison, Freeholder.
ChatGPT
descant
Descant is a term used in music to describe a secondary melody that is sung or played above the primary melody or theme. It is often used in harmony with the main melody to add complexity and depth to the piece. Descant can also specifically refer to the counterpoint sung by the highest voices in choral music.
Webster Dictionary
Descantverb
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
Descantverb
the upper voice in part music
Descantverb
the canto, cantus, or soprano voice; the treble
Descantverb
a discourse formed on its theme, like variations on a musical air; a comment or comments
Descantverb
to sing a variation or accomplishment
Descantverb
to comment freely; to discourse with fullness and particularity; to discourse at large
Etymology: [OF. descant, deschant, F. dchant, discant, LL. discantus, fr. L. dis + cantus singing, melody, fr. canere to sing. See Chant, and cf. Descant, v. i., Discant.]
Wikidata
Descant
Descant or discant can refer to several different things in music, depending on the period in question; etymologically, the word means a voice above or removed from others. A discant is a form of medieval music in which one singer sang a fixed melody, and others accompanied with improvisations. The word in this sense comes from the term discantus supra librum, and is a form of Gregorian chant in which only the melody is notated but an improvised polyphony is understood. The discantus supra librum had specific rules governing the improvisation of the additional voices. Later on, the term came to mean the treble or soprano singer in any group of voices, or the higher pitched line in a song. Eventually, by the Renaissance, descant referred generally to counterpoint. Nowadays the counterpoint meaning is the most common. Descant can also refer to the highest pitched of a group of instruments, particularly the descant viol or recorder. Similarly, it can also be applied to the soprano clef. Descant can also refer to a high, florid melody sung by a few sopranos as a decoration for a hymn.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Descant
des′kant, n. the air in a four-part song: a discourse or disquisition under several heads.—v.i. Descant′, to discourse at length: to comment. [O. Fr. descant—L. dis, apart, and cantus, a song—cantāre, to sing.]
Surnames Frequency by Census Records
DESCANT
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Descant is ranked #66553 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
The Descant surname appeared 297 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Descant.
94.9% or 282 total occurrences were White.
2.3% or 7 total occurrences were of two or more races.
1.6% or 5 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Anagrams for descant »
decants
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of descant in Chaldean Numerology is: 7
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of descant in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
Popularity rank by frequency of use
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"descant." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Oct. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/descant>.
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