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descant

Etymology and origin of the English word descant

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈdɛskænt/ (UK)[1]

Etymology

It comes from Middle English dyscant, deschaunt,[2][3][4] from Anglo-Norman deschaunt,[5][2][3][4] from Medieval Latin discantus (“refrain, part-song”),[5][2][3][4][6] from Latin dis- (“apart”) + cantus (“song”).[5][2][3][4][6] It is related to chant and cant.[4][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A counterpoint sung or played above a simple theme (about 1380–1400).[7][2][3]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th century the word meant the highest part in part-singing (1569),[7][3] the art of composing part-music,[7][3] and a warbled song (1576).[7][3] The verb, to sing in counterpoint, is from before 1450.[2][3] Figuratively the verb meant to make comments (about 1510) and to discourse at length (before 1661),[7][2][3] and the noun a series of comments on a theme (1590s),[3] a metaphor from variations composed on a simple air.[3]

Timeline

  • about 1380 – a counterpoint above a theme.[7]
  • before 1450 – verb, to sing in counterpoint.[2][3]
  • about 1510 – verb, to comment.[7]
  • 1569 – the soprano part.[7]
  • 1590s – noun, a discourse on a theme.[3]
  • before 1661 – verb, to discourse at length.[2][7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. An ornamental melody or counterpoint sung or played above a theme.
  2. The highest part in part music; the soprano or treble.
  3. A discussion or comment on a theme.

Verb

  1. To comment or discourse at length.
  2. To sing or play a descant; also to sing melodiously.

Word family

  • descanter
  • chant
  • cant
  • discant
  • canticle

Usage notes

Merriam-Webster and the American Heritage Dictionary give discant as a variant spelling.[5][4]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e f Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b c d The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  6. ^ a b c Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Descant.” Etymologically, 11 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/descant. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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