descant

2 entries found for descant.
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descant[1,noun] descant[2,intransitive verb]

Main Entry: ¹des·cant
Pronunciation: 'des-"kant
Variant(s): also dis·cant /'dis-/
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English dyscant, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French descaunt, from Medieval Latin discantus, from Latin dis- + cantus song -- more at CHANT
1 a : a melody or counterpoint sung above the plainsong of the tenor b : the art of composing or improvising contrapuntal part music; also : the music so composed or improvised c : SOPRANO, TREBLE d : a superimposed counterpoint to a simple melody sung typically by some or all of the sopranos
2 : discourse or comment on a theme