Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Dance
Dance
(dȧns)
, Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Danced
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dancing
.] [F.
danser
, fr. OHG. dansōn
to draw; akin to dinsan
to draw, Goth. apinsan
, and prob. from the same root (meaning to stretch
) as E. thin
. See Thin
.] 1.
To move with measured steps, or to a musical accompaniment; to go through, either alone or in company with others, with a regulated succession of movements, (commonly) to the sound of music; to trip or leap rhythmically.
Jack shall pipe and Gill shall
dance
. Wither.
Good shepherd, what fair swain is this
Which
Which
dances
with your daughter? Shakespeare
2.
To move nimbly or merrily; to express pleasure by motion; to caper; to frisk; to skip about.
Then, ’tis time to
dance
off. Thackeray.
More
Than when I first my wedded mistress saw.
dances
my rapt heartThan when I first my wedded mistress saw.
Shakespeare
Shadows in the glassy waters
dance
. Byron.
Where rivulets
dance
their wayward round. Wordsworth.
To dance on a rope
, or To dance on nothing
to be hanged.
Dance
,Verb.
T.
To cause to dance, or move nimbly or merrily about, or up and down; to dandle.
To
dance
our ringlets to the whistling wind. Shakespeare
Thy grandsire loved thee well;
Many a time he
Many a time he
danced
thee on his knee. Shakespeare
To dance attendance
, to come and go obsequiously; to be or remain in waiting, at the beck and call of another, with a view to please or gain favor.
A man of his place, and so near our favor,
To
To
dance attendance
on their lordships' pleasure. Shakespeare
1.
The leaping, tripping, or measured stepping of one who dances; an amusement, in which the movements of the persons are regulated by art, in figures and in accord with music.
2.
(Mus.)
A tune by which dancing is regulated, as the minuet, the waltz, the cotillon, etc.
☞ The word dance was used ironically, by the older writers, of many proceedings besides dancing.
Of remedies of love she knew parchance
For of that art she couth the olde
For of that art she couth the olde
dance
. Chaucer.
Dance of Death
(Art)
, an allegorical representation of the power of death over all, – the old, the young, the high, and the low, being led by a dancing skeleton.
– Morris dance
. See
– Morris
. To lead one a dance
, to cause one to go through a series of movements or experiences as if guided by a partner in a dance not understood.
Webster 1828 Edition
Dance
D'ANCE
, v.i.1.
Primarily, to leap or spring; hence, to leap or move with measured steps, regulated by a tune, sung or played on a musical instrument; to leap or step with graceful motions of the body, corresponding with the sound of the voice or an instrument.There is a time to mourn, and a time to dance. Eccles. iii
2.
To leap and frisk about; to move nimbly or up and down.To dance attendance, to wait with obsequiousness; to strive to please and gain favor by assiduous attentions and officious civilities; as, to dance attendance at court.
D'ANCE
,Verb.
T.
D'ANCE
,Noun.
1.
In general sense, a leaping and frisking about. Appropriately, a leaping or stepping with motions of the body adjusted to the measure of a tune, particularly by two or more in concert. A lively brisk exercise or amusement, in which the movements of the persons are regulated by art, in figure, and by the sound of instruments, in measure.2.
A tune by which dancing is regulated, as the minuet, the waltz, the cotillon, &c.