prance

prance
prancer, n.prancingly, adv.
/prans, prahns/, v., pranced, prancing, n.
v.i.
1. to spring from the hind legs; to move by springing, as a horse.
2. to ride on a horse doing this.
3. to ride gaily, proudly, or insolently.
4. to move or go in an elated manner; cavort.
5. to dance or move in a lively or spirited manner; caper.
v.t.
6. to cause to prance.
n.
7. the act of prancing; a prancing movement.
[1325-75; ME prauncen, praunsen (v.); akin to Dan (dial.) pransk spirited, said of a horse]
Syn. 4, 5. gambol, leap, skip, romp, frolic, frisk.

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  • Prance — (pr[.a]ns), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Pranced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Prancing}.] [OE. prauncen; probably akin to prank, v. t. See Prank.] 1. To spring or bound, as a horse in high mettle. [1913 Webster] Now rule thy prancing steed. Gay. [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • prance — ► VERB 1) (of a horse) move with high springy steps. 2) walk with ostentatious, exaggerated movements. ► NOUN ▪ an act of prancing. ORIGIN of unknown origin …   English terms dictionary

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  • prance — UK [prɑːns] / US [præns] verb [intransitive] Word forms prance : present tense I/you/we/they prance he/she/it prances present participle prancing past tense pranced past participle pranced a) to walk or move in a lively confident way that may… …   English dictionary

  • prance — I. verb (pranced; prancing) Etymology: Middle English prauncen Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. to spring from the hind legs or move by so doing 2. to ride on a prancing horse 3. to walk or move in a spirited manner ; strut; …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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