1
Stage 1 of 4
canere
Latin · ancient
"to sing"
to sing, giving rise to cantus (song), combined with dis- (apart)
2
Stage 2 of 4
discantus
Medieval Latin · medieval
"a melody sung against a main tune"
a singing apart, a melody sung against a main tune, from dis- and cantus
3
Stage 3 of 4
deschant
Old French · medieval
"a musical counterpoint melody"
carried into French for a musical counterpoint melody
4
Stage 4 of 4
descant
English · 1300s
"a melodic line sung or played above the main tune"
settled as the English word for a melodic line sung above the main tune
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