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.
DESCANT
Des*cant", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descanted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Descanting.] Etym: [From descant; n.; or directly fr. OF. descanter,
deschanter; L. dis- + cantare to sing.]
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.
DESCANTER
Des*cant"er, n.
Defn: One who descants.
DESCEND
De*scend", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Descending.] Etym: [F. descendre, L. descendere, descensum; de- +
scandere to climb. See Scan.]
1. To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move downwards; to come or go down in any way, as by falling, flowing, walking, etc.; to plunge; to fall; to incline downward; — the opposite of ascend. The rain descended, and the floods came. Matt. vii. 25. We will here descend to matters of later date. Fuller.
2. To enter mentally; to retire. [Poetic] [He] with holiest meditations fed, Into himself descended. Milton.