Etymograph

English

dance

Dance comes from Middle English dauncen, from Anglo-Norman dancier, from Vulgar Latin *dantiāre, of uncertain origin.

  1. Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*dantiārereconstructed
  2. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400dancier
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500dauncen‘to dance’
  4. Englishearliest quotation c. 1588–1593dance

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*dantiārereconstructed
  2. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400dancier
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500dauncen‘to dance’
  4. Englishearliest quotation c. 1588–1593dance

Earliest quotation: c. 1588–1593, William Shakespeare, The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus: “Thy grandsire loved thee well; / Many a time…”

The story

Inherited from Middle English dauncen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman dauncer, from Vulgar Latin *dantiāre, of uncertain origin.uncertain The source flags this step as uncertain.

Linked words

through Vulgar Latin *dantiāre ‘to dance’

danza, 1 more

Today it means

noun A sequence of rhythmic steps or movements usually performed to music, for pleasure or as a form of social interaction.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Vulgar Latin *dantiāre / dance

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