dance of death

dance of death
    n 1: a medieval dance in which a skeleton representing death
         leads a procession of others to the grave [syn: {danse
         macabre}, {dance of death}]
    

Dance \Dance\, n. [F. danse, of German origin. See {Dance}, v.
   i.]
   1. The leaping, tripping, or measured stepping of one who
      dances; an amusement, in which the movements of the
      persons are regulated by art, in figures and in accord
      with music.
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   2. (Mus.) A tune by which dancing is regulated, as the
      minuet, the waltz, the cotillon, etc.
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   Note: The word dance was used ironically, by the older
         writers, of many proceedings besides dancing.
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               Of remedies of love she knew parchance
               For of that art she couth the olde dance.
                                                  --Chaucer.
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   {Dance of Death} (Art), an allegorical representation of the
      power of death over all, -- the old, the young, the high,
      and the low, being led by a dancing skeleton.

   {Morris dance}. See {Morris}.

   {To lead one a dance}, to cause one to go through a series of
      movements or experiences as if guided by a partner in a
      dance not understood.
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