Descant — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈde-ˌskant/ (noun) /ˈdes-ˌkant/ (verb) des·cant

Meaning & Definition of Descant

Descant (noun)

  1. a melody or counterpoint sung above the plainsong of the tenor
  2. the art of composing or improvising contrapuntal part music; also, the music so composed or improvised
  3. soprano, treble

Descant (verb)

  1. to sing or play a descant; broadly, sing
  2. comment, discourse

Descant (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give a formal often extended talk on a subject

    "an English professor who loves to descant on his beloved Shakespeare"

    similar: declaim, discourse, expatiate, harangue, lecture, orate, speak, talk, hold forth, take the floor
    related: recite, soliloquize, dissert, expound, pontificate, sermonize, mouth, spout, filibuster

  2. to produce musical sounds with the voice

    "the world-famous soprano descanted above the melody line"

    similar: carol, chant, sing, vocalize
    related: belt, croon, harmonize, hum, lilt, quaver, scat, sharp, slur, trill, troll, warble, yodel, serenade

Descant (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in chorus, croon

    similar: aria, art song, barcarole, blues, chanson, chant, chantey, chorus, croon, folk song, glee, lullaby, madrigal, motet, part-song, pop, rocker, round, roundelay, serenade, standard, ballad, ditty, jingle, lay, lyric, solo, song, vocal, anthem, cantata, canticle, carol, chorale, hymn, noel, psalm, spiritual, dirge, lament, requiem, threnody, hallelujah, paean, drinking song, fight song, torch song, cover, medley, remix

  2. as in note, remark

    similar: note, observation, remark, annotation, explication, report, review, write-up, analysis, comment, commentary, exposition, play-by-play

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Descant

The most common words with a similar meaning to Descant:

declaim, discourse, expatiate, harangue, lecture, orate, speak, talk, carol, chant, sing, vocalize, hold forth, take the floor, aria, art song, barcarole, blues, chanson, chantey, chorus, croon, folk song, glee, lullaby, madrigal, motet, part-song, pop, rocker, round, roundelay, serenade, standard, ballad, ditty, jingle, lay, lyric, solo

Related Words for Descant

recite, soliloquize, dissert, expound, pontificate, sermonize, mouth, spout, filibuster, belt, harmonize, hum, lilt, quaver, scat, sharp, slur, trill, troll, warble, yodel

Word Forms of Descant

Inflections: descanted, descanting, descants

Origin & Etymology of Descant

Middle English dyscant, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French descaunt, from Medieval Latin discantus, from Latin dis- + cantus song chant

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Descant

Frequently Asked Questions about Descant

What does "Descant" mean?

"Descant" means a melody or counterpoint sung above the plainsong of the tenor. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a melody or counterpoint sung above the plainsong of the tenor. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Descant"?

Other words for "Descant" include declaim, discourse, expatiate, harangue, lecture, orate, speak and talk. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Descant" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Descant"?

There are 96 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Descant". Common alternatives include declaim, discourse, expatiate, harangue, lecture, orate, speak, talk, carol and chant.

How do you use "Descant" in a sentence?

Examples of "Descant" in a sentence: "an English professor who loves to descant on his beloved Shakespeare"; "the world-famous soprano descanted above the melody line".

Is "Descant" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Descant" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Descant" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Descant" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Descant"?

"Descant" is pronounced /ˈde-ˌskant/ as a noun and /ˈdes-ˌkant/ as a verb and divided into syllables as des·cant.

What is the origin of the word "Descant"?

"Descant" comes from Middle English dyscant, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French descaunt, from Medieval Latin discantus, from Latin dis- + cantus song chant. First known use: 14th century.