Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun An ornamental melody or counterpoint sung or played above a theme.
- noun The highest part sung in part music.
- noun A discussion or discourse on a theme.
- intransitive verb To comment at length; discourse.
- intransitive verb To sing or play a descant.
- intransitive verb To sing melodiously.
from The Century Dictionary.
- In music, to run a division or variety with the voice, on a musical ground in true measure; sing.
- To make copious and varied comments; discourse; remark again and again in varied phrase; enlarge or dwell on a matter in a variety of remarks or comments about it: usually with on or upon before the subject of remark: as, to
descant upon the beauties of a scene, or the shortness of life. - noun In music: A counterpoint added to a given melody or cantus firmus, and usually written above it.
- noun The art of contriving such a counterpoint, or, in general, of composing part-music. Descant was the first stage in the development of counterpoint; it began about 1100.
- noun In part-music, the upper part or voice, especially the soprano or air.
- noun A varied song; a song or tune with various modulations.
- noun A continued discourse or series of comments upon a subject; a disquisition; comment; remark.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- intransitive verb To sing a variation or accomplishment.
- intransitive verb To comment freely; to discourse with fullness and particularity; to discourse at large.
- noun 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.
- noun The upper voice in part music.
- noun The
canto ,cantus , or soprano voice; the treble. - noun A discourse formed on its theme, like variations on a musical air; a comment or comments.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A lengthy
discourse on a subject - noun music a
counterpoint melody sung orplayed above thetheme - verb intransitive To
discuss at length. - verb intransitive To sing or play a descant.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb sing by changing register; sing by yodeling
- verb talk at great length about something of one's interest
- verb sing in descant
- noun a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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African descant, which is why they dominant most sports where this explosive power is an asset.
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We think Mr. Hazlitt's notes are, in the main, good; but we should like to know his authority for saying that _pench_ means "the hole in a bench by which it was taken up," -- that "descant" means
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To 'descant' meant to sing or play an _extempore_ second 'part' to a written melody.
Shakespeare and Music With Illustrations from the Music of the 16th and 17th centuries 1900
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Now a "descant" is a variation imposed upon a plain-song.
Milton Walter Alexander Raleigh 1891
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There was, all the same, an unmistakable descant to yesterday's cheerfully celebratory spectacular.
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Ken Clarke was so close to the action that when the choirboys did their descant, it looked as though it was coming from him, and he had a surprisingly high, sweet voice.
Royal wedding guest list: perplexing – and where was naughty Uncle Gary? 2011
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This tone, with a long descant at the beginning of each verse, and a long and solemn conclusion, represents the weeping of the Church over His death.
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The congregation found strength in the final chord, swelling together with the organ's descant and sat down with resolve, in fluid motion.
Go to Jesus Rachel Lora Simmons 2010
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Fruits Basket (Eps 13-14) (Pleasant little kids intrigue descant with little plot) (New)
Archive 2009-12-01 admin 2009
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Fruits Basket (Eps 13-14) (Pleasant little kids intrigue descant with little plot) (New)
TV Anime Guide for Nov 09 Updated 1 Nov 09 admin 2009
fbharjo commented on the word descant
variation on a theme
March 28, 2009
dschram commented on the word descant
often called obbligato if done via instrument rather than voice
May 23, 2010
dschram commented on the word descant
more info on descants at www.hymndescants.com
May 23, 2010
chained_bear commented on the word descant
"... Unless to spy my shadow in the sun
And descant on mine own deformity...."
Richard III, William Shakespeare
May 25, 2010