Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dancing” come from?

Dancing comes from Middle English dauncen, from Anglo-Norman dancer, derived from Anglo-Norman daunce and Old French dance, a word of uncertain ultimate origin.

dancing (English): The activity of taking part in a dance; A dance...

Definitions

  1. The activity of taking part in a dance; A dance...

Ancestry of “dancing”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdanceA sequence of rhythmic steps or movements usually...
2Middle EnglishdauncenTo dance, be in a dance; To move about in a rapid...
3Anglo-Normandauncer—

Words derived from “dancing”

  • breakdancing
  • dancingly
  • ropedancing
  • nondancing
  • undancing
  • pole dancing
Every word from Anglo-Norman dauncer →