α. Middle English descaunt, Middle English deschant, Middle English deschaunt, Middle English–1500s descante, Middle English– descant, 1500s deskant, 1500s deskante.
β. Middle English–1800s discant, 1500s discante, 1500s dyscant, 1600s discantus.
descantn.
/ˈdɛskant/, U.S. /ˈdɛˌskænt/ I. Music.† 4. An instrumental prelude consisting of variations on a given theme. Obsolete.
1. Frequently in form discant.
a. The technique of writing or improvising music in parts, originally according to fixed rules in note-against-note style (cf. counterpoint n.1 2a, faburden n. 1, organum n.1 4). Later more generally: the addition of a melodious accompaniment to an existing melody or harmonized tune. Also: an instance of either technique.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > composing music > [noun] > composition of part music
descant?c1430
descantinga1538
part-writing1865
harmonization1880
voice leading1899
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > [noun] > singing in parts
descant?c1430
descantinga1538
part-singing1844
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > harmony or sounds in combination > [noun] > counterpoint > descant
descant?c1430
?c1430 (c1400) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 77 Grete criyng of song, as deschaunt, countre note & orgene.
a1450 Musical Treat. in Speculum (1935) 10 260 (MED) The sight of þe countertenor of descant & his acordis. Thus sufficientli sped of þe sightis of al þe degreis of descant, it is conuenient to declare þe 9 acordis of þe counter-tenor sight longyng to descant.
?a1500 R. Cutell Treat. Descant in F. Mercer Burney's Gen. Hist. Music (1935) I. 700 (MED) Now it is leuyd by the techers of descant that after a 3 a man may take a 6.
c1560 (a1500) Squyr Lowe Degre (Copland) l. 790 Your quere nor organ songe shall wante With countre note and dyscant.
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 31v If thou haddest learned..the first noat of Deskant thou wouldest haue kept thy sol. fa. to thy selfe.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar i. iv. 42 The whole chorus joined in descant and sang a hymn.
1660 J. Playford Brief Introd. Skill Musick (ed. 3) (title page) The art of descant, or composing musick in parts.
1683 I. Walton Chalkhill's Thealma & Clearchus 100 Sweet lays Wrought with such curious descant as would raise Attention in a stone.
1776 Universal Mag. Dec. 291/1 He was the first that introduced the practice of descant in singing.
1786 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music at Conductus Though in every other kind of discant some known melody was chosen which governed the air originating from it, in the Conductus the discant and the harmony were both of them new, and produced together.
1795 W. Mason Ess. Eng. Church Music ii. 100 A descant of thirtie-eight proportions of sondry kind.
1825 R. Southey Tale of Paraguay iii. xxxix Into a descant of her own Hath blended all their notes.
1871 Q. Rev. No. 261. 158 The notion of playing two different notes in successive harmony to one of longer duration, or the art of descant, had not yet occurred to any one.
1882 W. S. Rockstro in G. Grove Dict. Music III. 269 [Counterpoint] was..evolved by slow degrees, from Diaphonia, Discant, and Organum.
1930 H. O. Evennett Cardinal of Lorraine & Council of Trent vii. 228 No attempt at descant was to be permitted.
1994 J. Manley tr. P. W. Christoffersen French Music in Early 16th Cent. IV. ii. iv. 78 Two counter-voices, one higher and one lower, move in accordance with the descant technique which was common around 1400.
b. With modifying word indicating a specific technique or relationship between the parts, as bass descant, binding descant, English descant, etc. Now rare and historical. double descant: double counterpoint. plain descant: plain or simple counterpoint.
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1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 76 Two plainesong notes for one in the descant..is commonlie called binding descant.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 86 Base descant..is that kinde of descanting, where your sight of taking and vsing your cordes must be vnder the plainsong.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 105 Double descant..is verie neere the nature of a Canon..which being sung after diuers sortes, by changing the partes, maketh diuers manners of harmonie.
1631 E. Bevin Briefe Instr. Art of Musicke 20 There is also a kinde of double discant which is no Canon, but somewhat of the nature of a Canon.
1667 C. Simpson Compend. Pract. Musick iv. 110 Plain Descant (in which was taught the use of the Concords).
1708 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum (ed. 2) I Descant, Figurate or Florid Descant, is that wherein Discords are concerned, as well (though not so much) as concords.
1776 J. Hawkins Gen. Hist. Music IV. ii. v. 199 Those sundry points and passages which constitute the difference between figurate and plain descant.
1818 Musical Tour Dr. Minim 25 There came such a Roundelay in double-descant at the door, that it set all the piano's a jingling.
1841 J. F. Warner Universal Dict. Musical Terms p. xxx/2 in tr. G. Weber Gen. Music Teacher Plain descant is confined to a simple series of concords.
1917 Musical Times 58 157/1 Speaking of fugues in double descant, Purcell says: ‘Of this sort, there are some Fuges used by several Authors in Sonata's.’
1940 G. Reese Music in Middle Ages 398 Bukofzer..gives the name ‘English discant’ to the English style [sc. with the plainsong in the lowest part], retaining that of ‘fauxbourdon’ for the Continental style.
1977 Music & Lett. 58 406 Typically of English descant, the plainsong is carried virtually intact in the middle voice.
2. The highest part in improvised counterpoint or in a written polyphonic composition, esp. for voices. Later also: a part added above an existing melody or harmonized tune.Historically, the accompanying part was sometimes improvised, but now (esp. in the singing of hymns, etc.) it is more usually a fixed countermelody.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > types of song > [noun] > part-song > a part in > soprano
treblec1330
descant1563
soprano1786
1563 T. Becon Reliques of Rome (rev. ed.) f. 121v Ye children ney discant as it were a sorte of coltes.
1569 J. Sanford tr. H. C. Agrippa Of Vanitie Artes & Sci. 30 While the children braie the Discante [L. discantum].
1609 J. Dowland tr. A. Ornithoparchus Micrologus 83 Discantus [L. Discantus] is the vppermost part of each Song.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. ii. 95 You are too flat; And marre the concord, with too harsh a descant . View more context for this quotation
1644 E. Dering Disc. Proper Sacrifice sig. C iij Children neigh forth the descant.
1763 C. Churchill Prophecy of Famine 2 The youth..skill'd in rustic lays, Fast by her side his am'rous descant plays.
1794 Lady's Mag. Sept. 496/1 The fated round, complete, Shall bid her raise the descant sweet, Echoing through this gladsome hall.
1884 P. Schaff et al. Relig. Encycl. III. 2025 Composed for three voices—descant, tenor, and bass.
1983 E. Figes Light vii. 45 Her high voice sounded in a thin piping descant above the rest.
1999 W. Everett Beatles as Musicians 14 Typically, Lennon would sing the structural line, and McCartney the descant above.
2001 H. Owen Handbk. Creative Church Musicians i. 4 Melodic imitation is especially attractive in a descant if the hymn tune will support it.
3. A high-pitched, melodious song or voice, esp. (frequently poetic) that of a bird.
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the world > animals > birds > [noun] > making sound > singing > song
descant1576
trillo1651
vesper1678
nesting-song1879
1576 G. Gascoigne Complaynt of Phylomene in Steele Glas sig. K To heare the descant of the Nightingale.
1595 E. Spenser Epithalamion in Amoretti & Epithalamion v. sig. G6 The merry Larke hir mattins sings aloft, The thrush replyes, the Mauis descant playes.
1615 G. Wither Shepherds Hunting i, in Juvenilia (1633) 393 The cage doth some birds good, And..Will teach them sweeter descants than the wood.
1637 J. Shirley Lady of Pleasure v. sig. I4v The windes shall play soft descant to our feete.
a1771 T. Gray Sonnet on Death R. West in Poems (1775) 60 The birds in vain their amorous descant join.
1790 F. Sayers Descent of Frea i. 3 The sooty raven sails around my head, And harshly chaunts his hoarsest descant here.
1877 W. C. Bryant Waiting by Gate in Poems ii I hear the wood-thrush piping one mellow descant more.
1903 H. M. Batson Bk. Country & Garden 309 The starlings..wake us with a descant only a little less beautiful than the blackbird's note.
1982 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 24 Feb. c1/1 To their [sc. geese's] honks of alarm the widgeons added a descant of whistles.
2012 D. Park Light of Amsterdam iii. 76 ‘Da da!’ he said loudly, his voice a rising descant of boyish pleasure.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > section of piece of music > [noun] > main division of opus > prelude
prelude?1637
descant1644
preludio1724
research1728
vorspiel1876
1644 J. Milton Of Educ. 7 While the skilfull Organist plies his grave and fancied descant, in lofty fugues.
1795 W. Mason Ess. Eng. Church Music i. 58 (note) By Discant, the Musicians of Milton's time meant preluding on a given ground.
1807 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life II. xviii. 200 That peculiar species of prelusive flourish, or descant, with which Reviewers are accustomed to usher in the Performance under immediate examination.
1813 W. Scott Rokeby v. xii. 225 And then a low sad descant rung, As prelude to the lay he sung.
1882 J. H. Shorthouse John Inglesant (new ed.) II. 378 Mr. Inglesant being pressed to oblige the company, played a descant upon a ground bass in the Italian manner.
II. Extended uses, often in figurative contexts with reference to the plainsong or ground, and in the phrases run descant and sing descant.† 5. Variation from that which is typical or customary; an instance of this. Obsolete. shift of descant: a change of argumentative position (cf. to change one's tune (also †note) at change v. Phrases 1b).
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?1550 T. Becon Jewel of Joye sig. N.v Blessed Paule hath no shyfte of descante, but singeth euer one songe.
1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 2122/2 Whereas you say, they eate it spiritually, that is but a blynd shift of descant.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 119 Osorius lacketh not a shift of descante here, thinkyng thereby to craze the force of veritie.
1633 P. Fletcher Purple Island viii. xliv. 117 Runnes nimble descant on the plainest vices.
1640 J. Robotham in tr. Janua Linguarum Reserata (ed. 5) To Rdr. sig. A6 The descant of meeter hath often corrupted the plain-song of truth.
1642 T. Fuller Holy State iii. xiii. 184 Running, Leaping, and Dancing, the descants on the plain song of walking.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Cambr. 149 Their [basket] making is daily improved with much descant of art.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 543. ¶4 Providence has shewn..Wisdom..in the multiplicity of Descants which it has made on every Original Species.
6.
a. Varied comment (on a theme); amplification of a point made in discussion; a comment, observation, or remark; (occasionally) †censorious criticism, carping (obsolete).
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the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > interpretation > particular interpretation, construction > [noun] > explanation, comment
schedulec1420
descanting1536
commentary?1548
descant1567
annotation1570
exegesis1627
paraphrase1650
idioticonc1813
notice1835
1567 T. Stapleton Counterblast iii. f. 300v You make Martinus say, that the kinge of Hungary inuested Bishops, according to his pleasure. Which wordes (according to his pleasure) are not in Martinus at al, but it is a poynt of your descant, vpon his playne.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III iii. vii. 49 On that ground Ile build a holy descant . View more context for this quotation
1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 23 The wantonner sort of them sing descant on their mistris gloue.
1631 R. Brathwait Eng. Gentlewoman 91 Let not calumny runne descant on your tongue.
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre ii. xlvi. 107 Roger Hovedens witty descant on the time.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 209 If thy Religion should cost thee some disgrace, scorne and descant.
1655 H. L'Estrange Reign King Charles 7 It doth..render King Charles obnoxious to untoward and sinister descants.
a1677 I. Barrow Serm. Several Occasions (1678) 116 Neither shall I make any descant or reflexion thereon.
1710 Moderation & Loyalty Dissenters Exemplify'd 3 Rendering Things worse than they were by Partiallity and Discant.
1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 77 With merry descants on a nation's woes.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Let. to — in Posthumous Poems (1824) 69 There are themes enough for many a bout Of thought-entangled descant.
1880 C. Casey Philitis (ed. 5) 86 Passing by the purely assumptive and unproved hypothesis of a vertical plumb bore.., we come to the descant on measure of base side length.
1901 S. L. Gwynn Old Knowl. xv. 200 The silent audience was shaken by the notes of his voice as he uttered his descant on the central theme of Irish emotion.
2000 N. J. Rengger Internat. Relations, Polit. Theory & Probl. of Order ii. iv. 167 Otherwise its attempt to transcend the problem of order..will be seen to be, at best, a descant over the main themes of liberalism.
b. Chiefly literary. A disquisition, dissertation, or discourse (on a theme).
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the mind > language > speech > speech-making > [noun] > a discourse or lecture
spellc888
predicationa1325
lessonc1330
collation1417
sermocination1514
discourse1533
lecture1536
descant1567
peroration1607
homilya1616
sermona1616
exercitation1632
transcursion1641
exhortatory1656
by-discourse1660
screed1748
purlicue1825
rhesis1840
talk1859
lecturette1867
chalk talk1881
pi-jaw1896
1567 J. Jewel Def. Apol. Churche Eng. ii. 220 (margin) Al this is onely M. Hardinges discante.
a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1959) IV. 342 The Fathers have infinitely delighted themselves in this descant, the blessed effect of holy teares.
1667 E. Waterhouse Short Narr. Fire London 177 O remember the Prophetical descant of glorious King James.
1713 J. Addison in Guardian 8 July 1/2 After this short Descant on the Uncertainty of our English Weather.
1791 T. Paine Rights of Man i. 43 I have now to follow Mr. Burke through..a sort of descant upon governments.
1841 I. D'Israeli Amenities Lit. I. 313 He instructed the world by ethical descants.
1865 F. G. Lee Purchas's Directorium Anglicanum (ed. 2) §116. 110 Canticles (a descant of praise on the Lessons).
1882 Methodist Rev. Jan. 126 The descant on the universality of death discusses impressively a commonplace theme.
1920 O. Elton Surv. Eng. Lit. III. ix. 247 Written in the intervals of Ruskin's other industries, Fors is a descant on almost anything that could anger, or grieve, or inspire, or amuse, or otherwise interest him.
1994 Third Way Mar. 21/1 A novel..is a verbal construct, a kind of game, a descant on reality and, perhaps above all, an entertainment.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
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1728 R. North Mem. Musick (1846) 67 No wonder..that organs..with the descant manner, at last entered the churches.
1850 H. J. Rose New Gen. Biogr. Dict. II. 438/2 He became descant singer to the school.
1920 Musical Times 61 824/2 The Descant parts of the tunes are published in a separate volume.
1964 Musical Times 105 912 The compilers..have omitted the descant verses from Nicea, St Anne, Hanover and Ladywell.
2010 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 10 Dec. 13 It's debatable whether any traditional carol is improved by the incorporation of a whistle-register descant part.
C2.
descant clef n. = soprano clef n. at soprano n. 4.
ΚΠ
1832 Encycl. Americana XI. 493/1 The violin clef is now almost universally used instead of the descant clef.
1979 H. Danks Viola d'Amore i. 39 The writing for the viola d'amore should be done in 3 clefs: the bass clef..; the treble clef..; and finally the Descant clef.
2004 Notes 2nd Ser. 60 1026/2 But the upper staff is written throughout in C1 clef (soprano or descant clef, with middle C on the first line).
descant recorder n. the smallest of the four sizes of recorder in common use, having as its lowest note the C one octave above middle C, and popularly chosen as an instrument for children.In North America, usually referred to as the soprano recorder.
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1933 Musical Q. 19 preceding p. 195 (caption) Arnold Dolmetsch, his family and some of his assistants. Instruments, front row: lute.., little medieval harp with brass strings, descant recorder.
1958 New Scientist 27 Mar. 41/2 The sound of F sharp played on a descant recorder.
2014 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 7 May 23 Descant recorders are cheap (under £10) and portable compared with most other instruments.
descant viol n. the treble viol, which plays the main melody or soprano part; (also occasionally) the pardessus de viole.
ΚΠ
1892 F. H. Teall Eng. Compound Words & Phrases 83/1 Descant-viol.
1893 Hobby Horse Apr. 58 The treble, or descant, viol was usually furnished with six strings.
1938 Music Educators Jrnl. 25 78/2 Members of the Boston Society of Ancient Instruments will play at the concerts, using harpsichord, viola da gamba, descant viol, treble viol, viole d'amour, and large bass viol.
1999 S. Colvin Rhetorical Feminine iv. 199 The tenor viol corresponds to the modern viola, and the descant viol or violetta picciola..to our modern violin.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
descantv.
/dɪˈskant/, /dɛˈskant/, U.S. /ˈdɛˌskænt/, /dɛˈskænt/, /dᵻˈskænt/α. Middle English–1800s discant, 1500s–1600s dyscant.
β. 1500s descante, 1500s descaunt, 1500s– descant.
1. Music.
a. intransitive. To play or sing a descant, or a tune harmonized according to the principles of descant; (more generally) to sing harmoniously. Also transitive in to descant it.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > perform music [verb (intransitive)] > specific style or technique
descanta1450
to stay on1579
to run division1590
divide1609
shake1611
flourish1766
tweedle-dee1837
slide1864
Wagnerize1866
to break a chord1879
magadize1904
scoop1927
segue1958
rap1979
rhyme1979
scratch1982
a1450 L. Power Treat. on Counterpoint in Speculum (1935) 10 248 Hou þu shalt discant be-twene la & vt & vt la.
?1526 J. Fisher Serm. conc. Heretickes ii. sig. D.ivv The worde of god..is lyke of it & of a songe, where be many syngers, that diuersely descant vpon the playne songe.
1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 251 They wil..sing so sweetly, and withall descant it so finely and tunably.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Contre To..sing the Plainesong whereon another descants.
1793 European Mag. Apr. 262/2 Now it is certain that a singer does not vowel well, who cannot produce half a dozen sounds following when he descants, without making all sorts of grimaces.
1887 C. Bowen tr. Virgil Eclogues vi, in tr. Virgil in Eng. Verse 39 I with a meadow reed upon sylvan themes will descant.
1908 Monthly Musical Rec. Oct. 223/2 The principle was sound enough, although how the people found it (if they did), with trebles descanting above, and basses growling below, is not so easy to understand.
1993 M. Kennedy Britten (rev. ed.) xxiv. 213 The boys' ‘In paradisum’ is joined by the main choir..and orchestra, with the soprano descanting above the rich swell of sound.
b. transitive. To sing or play (words, a tune, etc.) as an accompaniment to a basic melody, or in counterpoint; to harmonize or provide a descant to (a note, tune, etc.). See descant n. 1a. Now rare.Occasionally of a bird, etc.: to sing (a high-pitched, melodious song); cf. descant n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > harmony or sounds in combination > harmonize [verb (transitive)] > add counterpoint to
descanta1450
counterpoint1877
a1450 L. Power Treat. on Counterpoint in Speculum (1935) 10 248 Here folwith ensaumplis of diuerse playn-songis, hou þu shalt discant hem be diuerse wise.
a1450 L. Power Treat. on Counterpoint in Speculum (1935) 10 249 To þe same playnsong þu maist discant 3 6tis with a 8, 3 10this with a 12, 3 13this with a 15.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 89 The wordys [of Church music] be so straunge & so dyversely descantyd.
1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) 81 Whether thinkest thou better sporte & more absurd, to see an Asse play on an harpe contrary to his sex, or heare the litle Robbin descant his meane note agreant to his kinde?
1604 J. Hanson Time is Turne-coate 8 For Phœbus Lute descants a gladsome note, Whereat Time skips, and turnes his sable Cote.
1747 W. Mason Musæus 12 But why do I descant this toyish rhyme, And fancies light in simple guise pourtray?
1904 J. Davidson Test. Prime Minister 65 Blackbirds and nightingales in every bough Descanted music fresh as garlands woven In Arcady.
1994 M. W. Summers Press Gang iii. 50 Marble was no mere lead singer in the chorus, descanting the sheet music that his superiors presented him with.
2.
a. intransitive. To make remarks, comments, or observations; to comment (on, upon, †of a subject, topic, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > literary and textual criticism > literary criticism > commentary > write commentary on [verb (transitive)]
expounda1340
descant?1510
comment1599
commentary1648
commentate1794
?1510 T. More in tr. G. F. Pico della Mirandola Lyfe I. Picus sig. d.ivv The company of the court..descanted therof to his rebuke.
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (ii. 7) They have curiously descanted upon theis woords.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III i. i. 27 To spie my shadow in the sunne, And descant on mine owne deformity. View more context for this quotation
1599 J. Chamberlain Let. 1 Aug. (1861) 57 My Lord's decimating of Sir Harry Harringtons companies is much descanted of, and not greatly liked here.
1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia i. 13 Many began strangely to discant of those crosse beginnings.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης Pref. sig. B To descant on the misfortunes of a Person fall'n from..dignity,..is neither of it selfe a thing commendable nor the intention of this discourse.
1738 W. Warburton Divine Legation Moses I. Ded. 23 To descant upon their very Hats and Habits.
1796 R. Bage Hermsprong III. viii. 69 I have infinite loss in the disability. It would have edified me much to have heard the rights of daughters, and the duties of fathers, descanted upon by so fine an understanding.
1850 C. Kingsley Alton Locke I. vi. 105 He ran on, descanting coarsely on beauties.
1891 ‘Q’ Noughts & Crosses 244 He began to descant on these stars, their distances and velocities; how that each was a sun, careering in measureless space.
1976 A. Powell To keep Ball Rolling (1983) i. i. 17 The less novelists descant on their own works the better.
2006 Poetry Sept. 434 One of poetry's jobs is to descant on the worst that life can hand us.
b. transitive. To comment on, discourse about, discuss; (formerly also) †to criticize, carp at (obsolete).In quot. ?1532 the form descante appears to be functioning as a participle (perhaps a typographical error for descanted) but interpretation is difficult.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > speak, say, or utter [verb (transitive)] > discuss (a topic)
talka1387
rolla1413
descant?1532
to speak to ——1610
to speak unto ——1639
to go into ——1697
cuff1746
to speak on ——1819
tongue1841
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > interpretation > particular interpretation, construction > interpret in particular way [verb (transitive)] > annotate, comment
annotec1525
descant?1532
comment1599
commentary1648
annotate1693
commentate1794
to mark up1963
?1532 Glasse of Truthe sig. Bv One of the chiefe lettars is and hathe be the lawyers opinion: whiche wolde attribute to the pope the heed of theyr lawe al maner of power. wherby beinge well descante (as they can well ynoughe) at lengthe shall be no lawe, but onely his wyll.
1534 Prymer in Eng. sig. J.iiijv On these they bable at lengthe and discant theyr plesures rather to the weryenge then edefyenge of the audience.
1627 Ld. Falkland Hist. Edward II (1680) 53 Where they might descant their griefs.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 376 Such secrets as these must be..adored, not descanted.
a1649 W. Drummond Poems (1656) 133 But who can descant right your grave Aspects?
1770 E. B. Greene Crit. Ess. 210 Enervate descriptions would argue a writer descanting feelings he never knew.
1850 M. Margoliouth Pilgr. Land of Fathers I. xix. 237 Their neighbours of Nashar long crowed over the Mustese, by descanting the merits of their Madonna.
1882 Gleason's Monthly Compan. Feb. 74/1 Hagar volubly descanted the merits of each.
1921 Bull. Pan-Pacific Union Jan. 18 Courtly tongues volubly descanted the fulsome honey of adulation to the rulers of the day.
1996 B. Nunes in R. González Echevarriá & E. Pupo-Walker Cambr. Hist. Lat. Amer. Lit. (2006) III. i. 43 Historiographers such as Sebastião da Rocha Pita..descanted the marvels of Brazil's prodigal Nature.
3. intransitive. To discourse at length, enlarge (on, upon, †of a theme).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > speech-making > make a speech [verb (intransitive)] > discourse or lecture
carpa1375
movec1400
descant1536
discourse1547
lecturea1592
homilize1624
dissert1657
lecturize1661
pronounce1663
to hold forth1668
to hold out1689
sermonize1753
dissertate1766
1536 R. Taverner tr. P. Melanchthon Apol. sig. A.v, in Confessyon Fayth Germaynes Concupiscence was nat to be omytted in the definition namely in this tyme when many do descant of it so vngodly.
1613 H. Austin tr. Ovid Scourge of Venus sig. A5 Faire Myrha; yet alas, more faire then chaste. Did set her thoughts to descant wantonly.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Heref. 33 The Frier rather descanted then commented.
1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. ii. 63 Which Argument is further flourisht and descanted upon in this manner.
1737 Daily Gazetteer 13 July 1/1 A late facetious Essay, in which the Droll Author has employ'd his whole Fund of Wit and Humour, in learnedly descanting on the Art of Kicking.
1791 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) I. 353 Abbé Syeyès..descants with much self-sufficiency on government.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Julian & Maddalo in Posthumous Poems (1824) 6 Of all that earth has been, or yet can be..We descanted.
1824 L.-M. Hawkins Mem. I. 97 Johnson..never accustomed himself ‘to descant’ on the ingratitude of mankind.
1830 M. Donovan Domest. Econ. II. iii. 73 The young champion..discants upon his address in catching the animal.
1878 W. E. Gladstone Homer 9 It was the bard's duty to descant upon the freshest and most interesting subjects.
1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Prop. vi. 92 On this theme he descanted for half an hour.
1990 Independent on Sunday 21 Oct. (Review Suppl.) 20 The author is a ferocious presence, telling what happens and then descanting like a philosopher on the nature of love.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > be skilled or versed in [verb (transitive)] > work on or fashion with skill
craftOE
descant1655
1655 T. Fuller Hist. Waltham-Abby 7 in Church-hist. Brit. His Tomb of plain, but rich gray Marble, with what seemeth a Cross-Floree (but much descanted on with art) upon the same.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Devon 247 Lace, costing nothing save a little thread descanted on by art and industry.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Somerset 20 The God of Nature is pleased to descant on a plain hollowness, with such wonderful contrivances.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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