descant English · revision 1134

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdɛskænt/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''dyscant'', ''deschaunt'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|xno|deschaunt]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|la-med|discantus|t=refrain, part-song]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[af|la|dis-|cantus|t1=apart|t2=song]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is related to [[chant]] and [[cant]].^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A counterpoint sung or played above a simple theme (about 1380–1400).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 16th century the word meant the highest part in part-singing (1569),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) the art of composing part-music,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and a warbled song (1576).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The verb, to sing in counterpoint, is from before 1450.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Figuratively the verb meant to make comments (about 1510) and to discourse at length (before 1661),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and the noun a series of comments on a theme (1590s),^(Etymonline) a metaphor from variations composed on a simple air.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1380 – a counterpoint above a theme.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1450 – verb, to sing in counterpoint.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * about 1510 – verb, to comment.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1569 – the soprano part.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – noun, a discourse on a theme.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1661 – verb, to discourse at length.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An ornamental melody or [[counterpoint]] sung or played above a theme.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The highest part in part music; the [[soprano]] or [[treble]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A discussion or comment on a theme.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To comment or [[discourse]] at length.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To sing or play a descant; also to sing melodiously.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[descanter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chant]]

+ * [[cant]]

+ * [[discant]]

+ * [[canticle]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Merriam-Webster and the American Heritage Dictionary give ''discant'' as a variant spelling.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}