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dance |
6 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Dance \Dance\, v. 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. --Shak. Thy grandsire loved thee well Many a time he danced thee on his knee. --Shak. {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 dance attendance on their lordships' pleasure. --Shak. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Dance \Dance\ (d[.a]ns), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Danced}; p. pr & vb n. {Dancing}.] [F. danser, fr OHG. dans[=o]n 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 dances with your daughter? --Shak. 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 dances my rapt heart Than when I first my wedded mistress saw. --Shak. 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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Dance \Dance\, n. [F. danse, of German origin. See {Dance}, v. i.] 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 Note: 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 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. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: dance n 1: an artistic form of nonverbal communication 2: a party of people assembled for dancing 3: taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music [syn: {dancing}, {terpsichore}] v 1: move in a graceful and rhythmical way 2: move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance [syn: {trip the light fantastic}] 3: skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways; "Dancing flames"; "The children danced with joy" From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: Dance found in Judg. 21:21, 23; Ps 30:11; 149:3; 150:4; Jer. 31:4, 13, etc., as the translation of _hul_, which points to the whirling motion of Oriental sacred dances. It is the rendering of a word (rakad') which means to skip or leap for joy, in Eccl. 3:4; Job 21:11; Isa. 13:21, etc In the New Testament it is in like manner the translation of different Greek words circular motion (Luke 15:25); leaping up and down in concert (Matt. 11:17), and by a single person (Matt. 14:6). It is spoken of as symbolical of rejoicing (Eccl. 3:4. Comp. Ps 30:11; Matt. 11: 17). The Hebrews had their sacred dances expressive of joy and thanksgiving, when the performers were usually females (Ex. 15:20; 1 Sam. 18:6). The ancient dance was very different from that common among Western nations. It was usually the part of the women only (Ex. 15:20; Judg. 11:34; comp. 5:1). Hence the peculiarity of David's conduct in dancing before the ark of the Lord (2 Sam. 6:14). The women took part in it with their timbrels. Michal should in accordance with the example of Miriam and others have herself led the female choir, instead of keeping aloof on the occasion and "looking through the window." David led the choir "uncovered", i.e., wearing only the ephod or linen tunic. He thought only of the honour of God, and forgot himself. From being reserved for occasions of religious worship and festivity, it came gradually to be practised in common life on occasions of rejoicing (Jer. 31:4). The sexes among the Jews always danced separately. The daughter of Herodias danced alone (Matt. 14:6). From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]: DANCE, v.i. To leap about to the sound of tittering music, preferably with arms about your neighbor's wife or daughter. There are many kinds of dances, but all those requiring the participation of the two sexes have two characteristics in common: they are conspicuously innocent, and warmly loved by the vicious.
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