descant as a noun: - 1
as a verb: - 1
- 2
- 3
descant
noun
1 descant
A decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody.
synonym: discant.
Roget 415:
music;
concert;
strain,
tune,
air;
melody
etc.
413;
aria,
arietta†;
piece of music [Fr.],
work,
number,
opus;
sonata;
rondo,
rondeau [Fr.];
pastorale,
cavatina†,
roulade†,
fantasia,
concerto,
overture,
symphony,
variations,
cadenza;
cadence;
fugue,
canon,
quodlibet,
serenade,
notturno [It],
dithyramb;
opera,
operetta;
oratorio;
composition,
movement;
stave;
passamezzo [It],
toccata,
Vorspiel [G.].
instrumental music;
full score;
minstrelsy,
tweedledum and tweedledee,
band,
orchestra;
concerted piece [Fr.],
potpourri,
capriccio.
vocal music,
vocalism†;
chaunt,
chant;
psalm,
psalmody;
hymn;
song
etc.
(poem)
597;
canticle,
canzonet†,
cantata,
bravura,
lay,
ballad,
ditty,
carol,
pastoral,
recitative,
recitativo†,
solfeggio†.
Lydian measures;
slow music,
slow movement;
adagio
etc.
adv.;
minuet;
siren strains,
soft music,
lullaby;
dump;
dirge
etc.
(lament)
839;
pibroch†;
martial music,
march;
dance music;
waltz
etc.
(dance)
840.
solo,
duet,
duo,
trio;
quartet,
quartett†;
septett†;
part song,
descant,
glee,
madrigal,
catch,
round,
chorus,
chorale;
antiphon†,
antiphony;
accompaniment,
second,
bass;
score;
bourdon†,
drone,
morceau†,
terzetto†.
composer
etc.
413;
musician
etc.
416.
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Dutch: discant
verb
1 descant
Sing in descant.
Roget 573:
be diffuse
etc.
adj.;
run out on,
descant,
expatiate,
enlarge,
dilate,
amplify,
expand,
inflate;
launch out,
branch out;
rant.
maunder,
prose;
harp upon
etc.
(repeat)
104;
dwell on,
insist upon.
digress,
ramble,
battre la campagne [Fr.],
beat about the bush,
perorate,
spin a long yarn,
protract;
spin out,
swell out,
draw out;
battologize†.
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2 descant
Sing by changing register; sing by yodeling.
synonyms: warble, yodel.
Dutch: jodelen
3 descant
Talk at great length about something of one's interest.
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