What does descanting mean?
'Descanting' is the present participle of the verb 'descant,' which carries two related senses: in music, to sing a melody that rises above the main tune, adding an improvised or composed upper part to a piece such as a hymn or plainsong; and more figuratively, to talk or write about a subject at great length. The word comes from medieval Latin 'discantus,' meaning a song sung apart or against another, which entered English via Old French. In its musical sense it evokes cathedral choirs and early polyphony, where skilled singers wove soaring lines above the plainchant. In its conversational sense, 'descanting' tends to appear in formal or literary prose and can carry a gently ironic connotation, suggesting a speaker who is expounding enthusiastically, perhaps at excessive length. Both senses share the idea of elaborating on a base — whether a melody or a topic.
To sing a melody above the main tune; figuratively, to discourse at length on a subject.
"She was descanting on the merits of slow travel when the train finally arrived."
Formal or literary register; the musical sense is chiefly found in discussions of early vocal music.
An additional melody sung above the main theme, especially in choral music; the act of discoursing at length.
"The soprano added a brilliant descant in the final verse of the carol."
The plural 'descants' applies only to this noun form.
A word born in medieval choirs now doubles as a fancy way to describe someone holding forth at dinner.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of descanting
'Descant' derives from medieval Latin 'discantus,' meaning 'a song sung apart' or 'against,' from Latin 'dis-' (apart) and 'cantus' (song), the root of 'chant.' It entered English through Old French 'deschant' in the Middle Ages, when it described the practice of adding an improvised voice above a plainsong melody — one of the earliest forms of European harmony. The figurative sense of talking at length developed later, extending the idea of elaboration beyond music. Words sharing the same Latin root include 'cantor,' 'precentor,' and 'incantation'.
Related word forms
How descanting is actually used
'Descanting' is formal or literary in tone. In music it refers specifically to singing a countermelody above a fixed tune; in speech or writing it carries a slightly ironic edge, suggesting someone is expounding at considerable length.
Easily confused with descanting
'Descend' means to move downward or lower, while 'descant' means to sing a countermelody or talk at length about a subject.