descant
1 of 2noun
des·cant ˈde-ˌskant 
variants or less commonly discant
ˈdi-ˌskant
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
descant
2 of 2verb
des·cant ˈdes-ˌkant de-ˈskant
de-ˈskant di-ˈskant
descanted; descanting; descants
intransitive verb
1
: to sing or play a descant
broadly : sing
2
: comment, discourse
Did you know?
The prefix des-, meaning "two" or "apart", indicates that the descant is a "second song" apart from the main melody. In popular songs a descant will often be sung at the very end to produce a thrilling climax.
Synonyms
Verb
- declaim
- discourse
- expatiate
- harangue
- lecture
- orate
- speak
- talk
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb an English professor who loves to descant on his beloved Shakespeare the world-famous soprano descanted above the melody line
Recent Examples on the Web
Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2022 This is a dark and defensive descant to a more substantial and necessary conversation about whiteness in America. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 3 July 2019
Noun
The Hynde storyline, which includes her messing around with songs on an acoustic guitar, runs as a kind of descant against the personal and professional noise of the Pistols. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2022 This is a dark and defensive descant to a more substantial and necessary conversation about whiteness in America. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 3 July 2019 Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English dyscant, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French descaunt, from Medieval Latin discantus, from Latin dis- + cantus song — more at chant
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
descanting
verb
1
as in speaking
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject an English professor who loves to descant on his beloved Shakespeare Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- speaking
- lecturing
- talking
- expatiating
- discoursing
- declaiming
- orating
- haranguing
- soliloquizing
- holding forth
- sermonizing
- expounding
- pontificating
- reciting
- taking the floor
- disserting
- mouthing
- spouting
- filibustering
2
as in singing
to produce musical sounds with the voice the world-famous soprano descanted above the melody line Synonyms & Similar Words
- singing
- chanting
- vocalizing
- trilling
- carolling
- warbling
- quavering
- lilting
- crooning
- sharping
- humming
- caroling
- serenading
- harmonizing
- scatting
- slurring
- yodelling
- yodeling
- trolling
- belting