What does descanted mean?
"Descanted" is the past tense of "descant," a verb with two related strands of meaning. In its more common modern use, it means to speak or write about a subject at length and with enthusiasm, as in "she descanted on the joys of rural life." It is a formal, literary word, typically paired with the prepositions "on" or "upon," and it sometimes carries a hint of gentle mockery toward a speaker who holds forth too long. Its older sense belongs to music: to descant was to sing a melody that rises above a plainchant, adding a second voice to a fixed tune — the original meaning from which the figurative one grew. The word derives ultimately from Latin "cantare," meaning to sing, via Old French. Though rare in everyday conversation, it lends precision and color to writing about speech, commentary, and song alike.
verbPast tense of "descant": to talk or write about something at length, typically in an enthusiastic or expansive manner; in music, to sing a melody above a plainchant or principal tune.
- To speak or write at length and often enthusiastically about a subject.
- (Music) To sing a melody that harmonizes with or rises above a plainchant or given tune.
"The lecturer descanted for hours on the virtues of classical architecture."
"At every dinner party he descanted upon the decline of modern manners until his guests' eyes glazed over."
"The medieval choir descanted above the monk's steady plainsong, weaving a second voice through the chapel."
Before it meant talking endlessly about a topic, "descant" was literally a melody sung above church chants — which is why rambling speakers are, etymologically, singing over everyone else.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of descanted
"Descant" comes from Old French "deschant," derived from Medieval Latin "discantus," literally "sounding apart" or "counter-song," formed from the Latin elements "dis-" (apart) and "cantus" (song), from "cantare," to sing. It entered English in the Middle Ages as a term for a melody set above a plainchant, then developed its figurative sense of discoursing at length on a subject by the sixteenth century. It shares its root with words such as "chant," "incantation," "enchant," and "cantata."
Related word forms
How descanted is actually used
Formal and somewhat literary in register; the extended-talking sense is usually followed by "on" or "upon" and can carry a faint suggestion of tediousness or self-importance. The musical sense is now largely confined to discussions of early music.
Easily confused with descanted
"Descanted" means having spoken at length on a subject, while "disconcerted" means unsettled or thrown into confusion.