contredanse
[kon-truh-dans, -dahns; French kawn-truh-dahns]
- a variation of the quadrille in which the dancers face each other.
- a piece of music suitable for such a dance.
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Also contradance.
Origin of contredanse
1795–1805; < French, equivalent to contre- counter- + danse dance, misrendering of English country-dance, by association with the characteristic arrangement of dancers in rows facing each other
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for contredanse
Historical Examples
The French contredanse was borrowed from the English country-dance.
English Past and PresentRichard Chevenix Trench
"Amidst more youthful engagements, don't forget you are engaged to me for a contredanse," she said.
Miles Tremenhere, Vol 2 of 2Annette Marie Maillard
Contredanse is the French original, and means that the parties stand opposite to each other.
Every-Day Errors of SpeechL. P. Meredith
Flocks of old gulls, enormous as hens, fluttered with evolutions like a contredanse upon its glossy surface.
The Dead CommandVicente Blasco Ibez
The contredanse represented was originally the old country dance exported to France and returned with certain arrangements added.
The Dance (by An Antiquary)Anonymous
contredanse
contradance
- a courtly Continental version of the English country dance, similar to the quadrille
- music written for or in the rhythm of this dance
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Word Origin
C19: from French, changed from English country dance; country altered to French contre (opposite) by folk etymology (because the dancers face each other)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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