DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 des·cant /ˈdɛsˌkænt/
 曲調,歌曲,評論(vi.)評論,唱歌

 Des·cant n.
 1. Mus. (a) Originally, a double song; a melody or counterpoint sung above the plain song of the tenor; a variation of an air; a variation by ornament of the main subject or plain song. (b) The upper voice in part music. (c) The canto, cantus, or soprano voice; the treble.
    Twenty doctors expound one text twenty ways, as children make descant upon plain song.   --Tyndale.
    She [the nightingale] all night long her amorous descant sung.   --Milton.
 Note: ☞ The term has also been used synonymously with counterpoint, or polyphony, which developed out of the French déchant, of the 12th century.
 2. A discourse formed on its theme, like variations on a musical air; a comment or comments.
    Upon that simplest of themes how magnificent a descant!   --De Quincey.

 Des·cant v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Descanting.]
 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.
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 descant
      n : a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added
          above a basic melody [syn: discant]
      v 1: sing in descant
      2: sing by changing register; sing by yodeling; "The Austrians
         were yodeling in the mountains" [syn: yodel, warble]
      3: talk at great length about something of one's interest