dais
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of dais
1225–75; Middle English deis < Anglo-French ( Old French dois ) < Latin discus quoit; see discus
Explanation
A speaker stands on a dais, or a platform, when giving a presentation. If you were speaking at the Coffee Lovers of America's conference, you'd step onto the dais so the audience could see you over their enormous cups o' joe. Dais comes to us from the Old French word deis, which was originally pronounced with only one syllable — more like days than the current day-us. If you take a course in a lecture hall, your professor will need to stand on the dais so everyone can see her better.
Vocabulary lists containing dais
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The Lightning Thief
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The Picture of Dorian Gray
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But she’s a captivating live presence and 2021’s strobe-saturated “Gold,” released on ultra-hip L.A./N.Y. label Dais, suggests that a pop breakthrough isn’t out of the question.
From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2023
Battle had nine children between the ages of 3 and 15, his aunt Barbara Dais told WXIA-TV.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 21, 2021
His last name is spelled Dais in some court and police documents.
From Washington Post • Aug. 27, 2020
He said Ms. Dais had been “kind of a key voice online” whose activities highlighted the importance of the Islamic State’s female supporters, especially those from the United States.
From New York Times • Apr. 23, 2019
Now this particular Joiner wanted to be up on a carpeted Dais every blessed Evening, having the Brothers march in front of him and give him the High Office.
From More Fables by Ade, George
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
