Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dance” come from?

Dance comes from Middle English dauncen, from Anglo-Norman dancer, from Anglo-Norman daunce, from Old French dance.

dance (English): A sequence of rhythmic steps or movements usually...

Definitions

  1. A sequence of rhythmic steps or movements usually...

Ancestry of “dance”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishdauncenTo dance, be in a dance; To move about in a rapid...
2Anglo-Normandauncer—

Words derived from “dance”

  • dancing
  • danced
  • dancehall
  • danceable
  • breakdancing
  • dancelike
  • danceth
  • dancy
  • breakdance
  • sundance
  • danceability
  • dancingly
  • outdance
  • dancewear
  • adance
  • ropedancing
  • dancest
  • breakdancer
  • nondancing
  • undanceable
  • nondance
  • danceless
  • Eurodance
  • undancing
Every word from Anglo-Norman dauncer →