Skip to content

plainsong

noun

  1. body of monophonic chants used in the liturgies of the Western Christian Church
L325548 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

noun

Etymology: From plain + song, calque of Latin cantus planus.

  1. A form of monophonic chant in unison using the Gregorian scale, sung in various Christian churches.
  2. A cantus firmus or theme chosen for contrapuntal treatment; so called because often an actual fragment of plain-song.
  3. The simple notes of an air, without ornament or variation.
  4. A plain unvarnished statement, without exaggeration.
plainsong — meaning, definition (noun) · Vinony