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1 dictionary results for: descants
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
des·cant       (děs'kānt')  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. also dis·cant (dĭs'-) Music
    1. An ornamental melody or counterpoint sung or played above a theme.
    2. The highest part sung in part music.
  2. A discussion or discourse on a theme.

intr.v.   (děs'kānt', dě-skānt') des·cant·ed, des·cant·ing, des·cants
  1. To comment at length; discourse: "He used to descant critically on the dishes which had been at table" (James Boswell).
  2. also dis·cant (dĭs'kānt', dĭ-skānt') Music
    1. To sing or play a descant.
    2. To sing melodiously.


[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman descaunt, from Medieval Latin discantus, a refrain : Latin dis-, dis- + Latin cantus, song, from past participle of canere, to sing; see kan- in Indo-European roots.]

des'cant'er n.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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