(v. i.) Originally, a double song; a melody or counterpoint sung above the plain song of the tenor; a variation of an air; a variation by ornament of the main subject or plain song.
(v. i.) The upper voice in part music.
(v. i.) The canto, cantus, or soprano voice; the treble.
(v. i.) A discourse formed on its theme, like variations on a musical air; a comment or comments.
(v. i.) To sing a variation or accomplishment.
(v. i.) To comment freely; to discourse with fullness and particularity; to discourse at large.
Example Sentences:
(1) Tony Blair added his characteristic descant, adding " We have imbibed deeply of the Olympic spirit … in throwing timidity to the winds we have rediscovered a spirit that is our own ".
(2) In a group of cases in which the symptoms had lasted a few months only a displacement towards high frequencies ("descant" displacement) was revealed.
(3) Hyperbolic”, sings George, while his friend David does descant, and the massed bands of Fleet Street march into battle.
(4) Yet Ukip – from the very beginning – played a racist descant on top of this tune of justifiable grievances.
(5) And yet there's a descant in Perth to the major-key optimism that has marked every SNP conference in the last few years.
(6) It will certainly bring the contest to succeed Mr Cameron closer – that is the loud descant to everything that is happening among the Tories at Westminster at the moment, as Mr Johnson’s antics demonstrate.
(7) Vocal chords will be lubricated with mulled wine and those attempting the dog-whistle Ding Dong descant would do well to consult the pub’s superior malt whisky collection in advance.
(8) Unnoticed by anyone, he maintains a gloomy descant ("A dollar is still a lot of money"; "I've suffered from depression all my life"; "I am dubious") to their falsely cheerful exchanges.
(9) That's why the opening of the Hockney show has been taking place to a not particularly subtle descant of propaganda and provocation from the great man himself.
(10) Indeed, Rona Fairhead, the current chair and once a favoured contributor to George Osborne’s Treasury deliberations, seems as miffed as anyone, while Sir Christopher Bland and Sir Michael Lyons sing transparency’s descant at the back of the chorus.
Expatiate
Definition:
(v. i.) To range at large, or without restraint.
(v. i.) To enlarge in discourse or writing; to be copious in argument or discussion; to descant.
(v. t.) To expand; to spread; to extend; to diffuse; to broaden.
Example Sentences:
(1) Many expatients deteriorate and become part of the "revolving door": single-room occupancy--city hospitals--state hospital.
(2) Expatients were more worried overall than nonpatient controls.
(3) Under current retrieval practice, however, families of deceased registered donors are seldom informed about the paramount rights of these individuals and are led to believe that they have final legal authority over the disposition of organs and tissues from these expatients.
(4) The authors suggest that, although such visits may be troublesome to staff, expatient visitors should be welcomed and offered informal brief supportive contacts when feasible.
(5) Hospital fit is positively related to fit in the community, but the latter is related only to the degree of symptomatology exhibited by the expatient in the community and not to how long he is able to remain out of the hospital.
(6) Follow-up was by personal clinical interview exploring the expatient's current living conditions, peer relationships, current psychopathology and drug or alcohol use, legal difficulties, academic and work functioning, subjective contentment, and plans for the future.
(7) The majority reported average or above average academic performance; there were no significant differences between academic achievements of the expatients and their siblings; the greatest portion of the sample were employed at least part-time and were satisfied with their employment status.
(8) Of 29 expatient visitors, some of whom made multiple and even daily visits, more than half appeared to use the visits as an indirect, symbolic way of asking for help.
(9) Thirty-one inpatient and 67 expatient problem drinkers' use of low alcohol drinks and their attitudes towards them were assessed using questionnaire measures.
(10) The relationship between worry about cancer and judged cancer risk was examined among 54 expatients who had been cured of breast cancer and 81 women with no history of cancer.
(11) Though he savoured an evening at home with a glass – several glasses – of wine and an Araucaria crossword (his reverence for John Graham , the Guardian's Araucaria, was matched by John's for Simon), he was constantly out in society, always likelier to say yes than no to a party, where you would find him expatiating, glass in hand, to attentive gatherings.
(12) The aim of the study was to discover the quality and efficiency of health services delivery to the population in the field of tuberculosis under routine conditions, and to find out the relapse rate after cessation of chemotherapy in expatients who were found to be negative 2 years after starting chemotherapy.