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plainsong

3 dictionary results for: plainsong

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

plain⋅song

[pleyn-sawng, -song]

–noun

1.	the unisonous vocal music used in the Christian church from the earliest times.

2.	modal liturgical music; Gregorian chant.

3.	a cantus firmus or theme chosen for contrapuntal development.

4.	any simple and unadorned melody or air.

Also, plain song.

Also called plainchant (for defs. 1, 2).

Origin:
1505–15; trans. of ML cantus plānus

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

plain·song (plān'sông', -sŏng') Pronunciation Key
n. Roman Catholic Church

Gregorian chant.
Any monophonic medieval liturgical music without strict meter and traditionally sung without accompaniment. Also called plainchant.

[Translation of Medieval Latin cantus plānus.]

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

plainsong
noun
a liturgical chant of the Roman Catholic Church