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#213599 12/16/13 03:48 PM
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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".


Murray Stone, Westerose, Alberta
murraystone #213626 12/17/13 02:56 PM
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A worthy thought, murraystone. Thanks for it.

murraystone #214181 02/12/14 04:03 AM
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Not exactly related, but: why is descant pronounced DESS-cant and the word that is only one vowel different pronounced de-SENT?

Jackie #214182 02/12/14 05:52 AM
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..or perhaps DEE-sent?

murraystone #214183 02/12/14 11:07 AM
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Because that's the way we say it.

Jackie #214185 02/13/14 12:47 AM
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or Desant..

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English discant, descaunt < Anglo-French < Medieval Latin discanthus, equivalent to Latin dis- dis-1 + cantus

olly #214195 02/14/14 04:10 AM
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Oh, thanks, olly, for adding all those to the mix! [sarcasm e] wink You doin' ok?

tsuwm #214196 02/14/14 04:13 AM
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..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.

Jackie #214233 02/19/14 08:46 AM
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Doin great Jackie. He said in a rather descant way...

murraystone #214235 02/19/14 02:24 PM
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Good! :-)

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