dan
[dahn, dan]
- a degree of expertise in karate, judo, tae kwon do, etc., usually signified by the wearing of a cloth belt of a particular color; level: a sixth-degree dan.
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Origin of dan
1940–45; < Japanese < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese duàn step, grade
Dan1
[dan]
- a son of Jacob and Bilhah. Gen. 30:6.
- one of the 12 tribes of Israel, traditionally descended from him.
- the northernmost city of ancient Palestine.
- a male given name, form of Daniel.
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- from Dan to Beersheba, from one outermost extreme or limit to the other. Judges 20:1.
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Dan2
[dan]
- a title of honor equivalent to master or sir: Dan Chaucer.
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Origin of Dan2
1275–1325; Middle English < Old French danz < Medieval Latin domnus, contraction of Latin dominus “lord, master”
Dan.
- Bible. Daniel(def 1).
- Danish.Also Dan
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Marino
[muh-ree-noh]
- Daniel ConstantineDan, born 1961, U.S. football player.
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Quayle
[kweyl]
- James DanforthDan, born 1947, vice president of the U.S. 1989–93.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for dan
Contemporary Examples
Its first sale was a Dan Colen work, which sold for “something like $120,000 or $150,000.”
William, Kate, and Jay Z’s Favorite Art Star: Alexander Gilkes' World of Rock Stars and RoyaltyTim Teeman
December 10, 2014
The real power lies in a handful of men like Dan Loeb, who personally put up a million dollars to take over the Senate.
In his first term, Dan Malloy enacted a hugely ambitious progressive agenda.
But perhaps a better name for this crowd would be “the Dan Malloy wing of the Democratic Party.”
Dan Malloy Is Progressives’ Dream Governor. So Why Isn’t He Winning?David Freedlander
October 30, 2014
There was that Twitter rant by Dan Haseltine, lead singer of Jars of Clay, supporting gay marriage.
Historical Examples
"Dan's goin' t' kill 'imself 'cause 'is wife's gone," blubbered the other.
The Bacillus of BeautyHarriet Stark
Dan was the principal sufferer, as, to say the truth, he ought to have been.
Ned MyersJames Fenimore Cooper
Gilead abode beyond Jordan, and why did Dan remain in ships?
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IFrancis Augustus Cox
There was a slight click again; and he turned, just as Dan reappeared in the doorway.
The Inn at the Red OakLatta Griswold
For the moment Dan forgot his complaint in the tender thought of his foster-sister.
The Inn at the Red OakLatta Griswold
dan1
- a small buoy used as a marker at seaAlso called: dan buoy
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Word Origin
C17: of unknown origin
dan2
- any one of the 10 black-belt grades of proficiency
- a competitor entitled to dan grading
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Compare kyu
Word Origin
Japanese
Dan1
- an archaic title of honour, equivalent to Master or SirDan Chaucer
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Dan2
- the fourth son of Jacob (Genesis 30:1–6)
- the tribe descended from him
- a city in the northern territory of Canaan
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Dan.
- Bible Daniel
- Danish
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Quayle
- Sir (John) Anthony . 1913–89, British actor and theatrical producer: director (1948–56) of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre
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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 dan
title of address to members of religious orders, c.1300, from Old French dan (Modern French dom), from Latin dominus "lord" (source of Portuguese don, Spanish don, Italian donno; see don (n.)).
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Dan
1
familiar form of masc. proper name Daniel.
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Dan
2
name of one of the 12 tribes of ancient Israel or its territory, named for its founder; literally "he who judges," related to Hebrew din "to judge." In the Old Testament, it occupied the northernmost part of Israel, hence its use proverbially for "utmost extremity," e.g. in from Dan to Beersheba (the southernmost region), 1738.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper