Definition of Dance

Damn

DANCE verb, intransitive

	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.

		definition from: *The Devil's Dictionary* by Ambrose Bierce, 1911

Danger

Regular definition:

DANCE:
d?:ns v. & n. --v. 1 intr. move about rhythmically alone or with a partner or in a set, usu. in fixed steps or sequences to music, for pleasure or as entertainment. 2 intr. move in a lively way; skip or jump about. 3 tr. a perform (a specified dance or form of dancing). b perform (a specified role) in a ballet etc. 4 intr. move up and down (on water, in the field of vision, etc.). 5 tr. move (esp. a child) up and down; dandle. --n. 1 a a piece of dancing; a sequence of steps in dancing. b a special form of this. 2 a single round or turn of a dance. 3 a social gathering for dancing, a ball. 4 a piece of music for dancing to or in a dance rhythm. 5 a dancing or lively motion. ødance attendance on follow or wait on (a person) obsequiously. dance of death a medieval dance in which a personified Death is represented as leading all to the grave. dance to a person's tune accede obsequiously to a person's demands and wishes. lead a person a dance (or merry dance) Brit. cause a person much trouble in following a course one has instigated. øødanceable adj. [ME f. OF dance, danse (n.), dancer, danser (v.), f. Rmc, of unkn. orig.]

Last updated: 9/3/2011 12:48:30