The notion that a descant is a specifically ornamental melodic line adds extra poignancy to Richard III's soliloquy in Act I Sc I, where he says he is reluctant to loiter in public "Unless to spy my shadow in the sun. And descant on mine own deformity".
A worthy thought, murraystone. Thanks for it.
Not exactly related, but: why is descant pronounced DESS-cant and the word that is only one vowel different pronounced de-SENT?
Because that's the way we say it.
or Desant..
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English discant, descaunt < Anglo-French < Medieval Latin discanthus, equivalent to Latin dis- dis-1 + cantus
Oh, thanks, olly, for adding all those to the mix! [sarcasm e]
You doin' ok?
..or perhaps DEE-sent? Maybe, M, but I'm not far enough south to say it that way. But I do say INsurance. Hubby says warranTEE, which drives me up the wall.
Doin great Jackie. He said in a rather descant way...
When I was in Secondary school I used to sing descant in the school
choir until my voice broke.
In vain to me the smiling Mornings shine,
And redd'ning Phoebus lifts his golden Fire:
The Birds in vain their amorous
Descant join;
Or cheerful Fields resume their green Attire:
Thomas Gray (1716–1771), British poet. Sonnet on the Death of Mr. Richard West (l. 1–4). . .
Read more at
http://quotes.dictionary.com/In_vain_to_me_the_smiling_Mornings_shine#QXH06CJROvyq8jDR.99