dais

[dey-is, dahy-, deys]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dais ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a raised platform, as at the front of a room, for a lectern, throne, seats of honor, etc.

Origin of dais

1225–75; Middle English deis < Anglo-French (Old French dois) < Latin discus quoit; see discus

Can be confuseddais daisy days

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for dais

podium, terrace, rostrum, table, seat, bench, stage

Examples from the Web for dais

Contemporary Examples of dais

A man behind him on the dais has a dust mask slung over his neck.
Rudy Giuliani on His 9/11 Bluff, the Museum Controversy and the Rise of ISIS
Josh Robin
September 11, 2014
At the center of the dais, facing the nominee, sat the committee chair, Democrat Carl Levin of Michigan.
How the Chuck Hagel Fight Changed the American Jewish Landscape in Washington
J. J. Goldberg
August 20, 2013
Activities on stage got projected on giant screens flanking the dais, or on the jumbotron-like rig overhead.
Livni's Call To "Divorce" Palestinians
Ali Gharib
March 13, 2013
Imagine the next time Calderon ascends the dais to make a political point.
Religion And State In Ruth Calderon's Knesset Speech
Zachary Braiterman
February 15, 2013
He walked to the dais and delivered a beautiful speech in perfect English.
Words of Wisdom: The Best of ‘Dear Abby’
Nina Strochlic
January 17, 2013

Historical Examples of dais

All around the dais, seated on the sloping floor of the cavern, were Lakonians.
Priestess of the Flame
Sewell Peaslee Wright
Everybody rose to his feet as the Deemster stepped to the dais.
The Manxman
Hall Caine
With a short laugh he turned from Francesco to those upon the dais.
Love-at-Arms
Raphael Sabatini
The throne was set on a sort of dais, with three steps in front of it.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, October, 1930
Various
In solemn order Templeton ascended the dais and rendered homage.
Follow My leader
Talbot Baines Reed

British Dictionary definitions for dais

dais

noun

a raised platform, usually at one end of a hall, used by speakers, etc

Word Origin for dais

C13: from Old French deis, from Latin discus discus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dais

mid-13c., from Anglo-French deis, Old French dais "table, platform," from Latin discus "disk-shaped object," also, by medieval times, "table," from Greek diskos "quoit, disk, dish." Died out in English c.1600, preserved in Scotland, revived 19c. by antiquarians.