plainsong

plainsong

See also: plain-song and plain song

English

Alternative forms

• plain song
• plain-song

Etymology

plain +‎ song, calque of Latin cantus planus.

Noun

plainsong (countable and uncountable, plural plainsongs)

1. (music) A form of monophonic chant in unison using the Gregorian scale, sung in various Christian churches.

   Synonym: plainchant

2. (music) A cantus firmus or theme chosen for contrapuntal treatment; so called because often an actual fragment of plain-song.
3. (music) The simple notes of an air, without ornament or variation.
4. (by extension) A plain unvarnished statement, without exaggeration.

Translations

monophonic chant

Esperanto: plejnkanto French: plain-chant (fr) m German: Cantus planus m Icelandic: sléttsöngur m Irish: cantaireacht eaglasta f, réchantaireacht f Italian: canto piano m

Latin: cantus planus m Persian: ساده‌خوانی‎ Portuguese: cantochão (pt) m Spanish: canto llano m Vietnamese: bình ca

See also

• Gregorian chant

References

• plainsong in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

• pangolins