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Added 9 October 2026

dance

/dɑːns/ noun

In Latin: saltatio, tripudium, saltatus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about dance at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An artistic form of nonverbal communication.
A party of people assembled for dancing.
Taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music.

verb

Move in a graceful and rhythmical way.
The young girl danced into the room
Move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance.
My husband and I like to dance at home to the radio
Skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways.
Dancing flames

Origin

Inherited from Middle English dauncen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman dauncer, from Vulgar Latin *dantiāre, of uncertain origin. Displaced native Old English sealtian, Old English frīcian, and partially displaced Old English hlēapan (“to leap, dance, run”, whence modern leap). Doublet of danza.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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