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
descants 1 of 2
verb
1
as in lectures
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
- lectures
- speaks
- talks
- declaims
- discourses
- orates
- holds forth
- harangues
- expatiates
- soliloquizes
- sermonizes
- recites
- pontificates
- expounds
- takes the floor
- disserts
- mouths
- spouts
- filibusters
2
as in chants
to produce musical sounds with the voice the world-famous soprano descanted above the melody line Synonyms & Similar Words
- chants
- sings
- carols
- trills
- vocalizes
- quavers
- warbles
- sharps
- hums
- slurs
- lilts
- serenades
- scats
- yodels
- trolls
- harmonizes
- croons
- belts
descants
2 of 2noun
variants also discants
1
as in glees
Synonyms & Similar Words
- glees
- madrigals
- choruses
- arias
- motets
- carols
- hymns
- solos
- lullabies
- chansons
- ballads
- canticles
- ditties
- chants
- chanties
- part-songs
- chorales
- psalms
- chanteys
- vocals
- cantatas
- serenades
- spirituals
- standards
- blues
- pops
- shanties
- noels
- anthems
- folk songs
- songs
- lyrics
- dirges
- jingles
- roundelays
- requiems
- croons
- art songs
- rounds
- hallelujahs
- rockers
- paeans
- lays
- barcarolles
- arie
- barcaroles
- threnodies
- laments
- medleys
- drinking songs
- fight songs
- remixes
- torch songs
- covers
2
as in observations
Synonyms & Similar Words
- observations
- remarks
- explications
- annotations
- notes
- analyses
- commentaries
- reports
- expositions
- comments
- play-by-plays
- reviews
- write-ups