Definition of descant. Meaning of descant. Synonyms of descant

Here you will find one or more explanations in English for the word descant. Also in the bottom left of the page several parts of wikipedia pages related to the word descant and, of course, descant synonyms and on the right images related to the word descant.

Definition of descant

Descant
Descant Des*cant" (d[e^]s*k[a^]nt"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Descanting.] [From descant; n.; or directly fr. OF. descanter, deschanter; L. dis- + cantare to sing.] 1. To sing a variation or accomplishment. 2. To comment freely; to discourse with fullness and particularity; to discourse at large. A virtuous man should be pleased to find people descanting on his actions. --Addison.
descant
Figurate Fig"ur*ate, a. [L. figuratus, p. p. of figurare. See Figure.] 1. Of a definite form or figure. Plants are all figurate and determinate, which inanimate bodies are not. --Bacon. 2. Figurative; metaphorical. [Obs.] --Bale. 3. (Mus.) Florid; figurative; involving passing discords by the freer melodic movement of one or more parts or voices in the harmony; as, figurate counterpoint or descant. Figurate counterpoint or descant (Mus.), that which is not simple, or in which the parts do not move together tone for tone, but in which freer movement of one or more parts mingles passing discords with the harmony; -- called also figural, figurative, and figured counterpoint or descant (although the term figured is more commonly applied to a bass with numerals written above or below to indicate the other notes of the harmony). Figurate numbers (Math.), numbers, or series of numbers, formed from any arithmetical progression in which the first term is a unit, and the difference a whole number, by taking the first term, and the sums of the first two, first three, first four, etc., as the successive terms of a new series, from which another may be formed in the same manner, and so on, the numbers in the resulting series being such that points representing them are capable of symmetrical arrangement in different geometrical figures, as triangles, squares, pentagons, etc. Note: In the following example, the two lower lines are composed of figurate numbers, those in the second line being triangular, and represented thus: -- . 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. . . . 1, 3, 6, 10, etc. . . . . . . . etc. 1, 4, 10, 20, etc . . . . . . . . . . . .
descant
Figurate Fig"ur*ate, a. [L. figuratus, p. p. of figurare. See Figure.] 1. Of a definite form or figure. Plants are all figurate and determinate, which inanimate bodies are not. --Bacon. 2. Figurative; metaphorical. [Obs.] --Bale. 3. (Mus.) Florid; figurative; involving passing discords by the freer melodic movement of one or more parts or voices in the harmony; as, figurate counterpoint or descant. Figurate counterpoint or descant (Mus.), that which is not simple, or in which the parts do not move together tone for tone, but in which freer movement of one or more parts mingles passing discords with the harmony; -- called also figural, figurative, and figured counterpoint or descant (although the term figured is more commonly applied to a bass with numerals written above or below to indicate the other notes of the harmony). Figurate numbers (Math.), numbers, or series of numbers, formed from any arithmetical progression in which the first term is a unit, and the difference a whole number, by taking the first term, and the sums of the first two, first three, first four, etc., as the successive terms of a new series, from which another may be formed in the same manner, and so on, the numbers in the resulting series being such that points representing them are capable of symmetrical arrangement in different geometrical figures, as triangles, squares, pentagons, etc. Note: In the following example, the two lower lines are composed of figurate numbers, those in the second line being triangular, and represented thus: -- . 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. . . . 1, 3, 6, 10, etc. . . . . . . . etc. 1, 4, 10, 20, etc . . . . . . . . . . . .

Meaning of descant from wikipedia

- A descant, discant, or discantus is any of several different things in music, depending on the period in question; etymologically, the word means a voice...
- A Descant for Gossips may refer to: A Descant for Gossips (miniseries) A Descant for Gossips (novel) This disambiguation page lists articles ****ociated...
- Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious is the third album by British extreme metal band Carc****. It was released on 30 October 1991 through Earache...
- Descant (1970 – 2015) was a quarterly literary magazine that published new and established contemporary writers and visual artists from Canada and around...
- The soprano recorder in C, also known as the descant, is the third-smallest instrument of the modern recorder family and is usually pla**** as the highest...
- often used by players in professional orchestras and bands, although the descant and triple horn have become increasingly po****r. A musician who plays...
- A Descant for Gossips is a 1983 Australian mini series about a school girl who becomes involved with two teachers. The adaptation is based on the novel...
- despite sharing the same professional role and physical stature. Mervall and Descant Brill, commonly known as "the Brill brothers," are twin pixies featured...
- cappella music, where the lead is the highest of the five voices and sings a descant and not the melody. Some artists may sing both the lead and backing vocals...
- family ranging from descant (soprano), tenor-alto, b**** to great b****. Relative to their pitch, racketts are quite small (the descant rackett is only 4½...