descant

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman descaunt, from Medieval Latin discantus.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈdɛskænt/
  • Rhymes: -ænt

Noun

descant (plural descants)

  1. A lengthy discourse on a subject
    • De Quincey
      Upon that simplest of themes how magnificent a descant!
  2. (music) A counterpoint melody sung or played above the theme

Verb

descant (third-person singular simple present descants, present participle descanting, simple past and past participle descanted)

  1. (intransitive) To discuss at length.
    • 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 4, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad‎:
      “… This is a surprise attack, and I’d no wish that the garrison, forewarned, should escape. I am sure, Lord Stranleigh, that he has been descanting on the distraction of the woods and the camp, or perhaps the metropolitan dissipation of Philadelphia, …”
  2. (intransitive) To sing or play a descant.

Quotations
  • 1919, Ronald Firbank, Valmouth, Duckworth, hardback edition, page 121
    Involving some interesting, intellectual trips, she was descanting lightly to right and left.

Anagrams
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