▪ I. descanting, vbl. n.
(dɪˈskæntɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing1.]
The action of the vb. descant: a. singing in ‘descant’; b. commenting, disquisition.
| 1538 Starkey England i. iv. 137 Our Curyouse dyscantyng and conteryng [printed canteryng] in Churchys. 1561 J. Daus tr. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573) 12 A wonderfull descantyng vpon letters. 1575 Brieff Disc. Troubles Franckford (1846) 206 The trollinge and descantinge off the Psalmes. 1680 Burnet Rochester (T.), The descantings of fanciful men upon them [the Scriptures]. 1851 Gladstone Glean. VI. xxi. 14, I waive descanting on personal qualities. |
▪ II. deˈscanting, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
Commenting, criticizing: in quot. criticizing censoriously, carping.
| 1594 J. Dickenson Arisbas (1878) 28 To shield me from the descanting verdites of such vnfriendly readers. |