dais

Meaning

  1. A raised platform in a room for a high table, a seat of honour, a throne, or other dignified occupancy, such as ancestral statues; a similar platform supporting a lectern, pulpit, etc., which may be used to speak from.
  2. (British, Northern, historical) A bench, a settle, a pew.
  3. (obsolete) An elevated table in a hall at which important people were seated; a high table.
  4. The canopy over an altar, etc.

Frequency

32k
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈdeɪ.ɪs/
Etymology

In summary

From Middle English deis, from Anglo-Norman deis, from Old French deis, dois (modern French dais), from Latin discum, accusative singular of discus (“discus, disc, quoit; dish”) (Late Latin discum (“table”)), from Ancient Greek δίσκος (dískos, “discus, disc; tray”), from δικεῖν (dikeîn, “to cast, to throw; to strike”). Cognate with Italian desco, Occitan des. Doublet of desk, disc, discus, dish, disk, and diskos.

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