Word Meanings - MORRIS - Book Publishers vocabulary database

1. A Moorish dance, usually performed by a single dancer, who accompanies the dance with castanets. 2. A dance formerly common in England, often performed in pagenats, processions, and May games. The dancers, grotesquely dressed and ornamented,

Additional info about word: MORRIS

1. A Moorish dance, usually performed by a single dancer, who accompanies the dance with castanets. 2. A dance formerly common in England, often performed in pagenats, processions, and May games. The dancers, grotesquely dressed and ornamented, took the parts of Robin Hood, Maidmarian, and other fictious characters. 3. An old game played with counters, or men, which are placed angles of a figure drawn on a board or on the ground; also, the board or ground on which the game is played. The nine-men's morris is filled up with mud. Shak. Note: The figure consists of three concentric squares, with lines from the angles of the outer one to those of the inner, and from the middle of each side of the outer square to that of the inner. The game is played by two persons with nine or twelve pieces each (hence called nine-men's morris or twelve-men's morris). The pieces are placed alternately, and each player endeavors to prevent his opponent from making a straight row of three. Should either succeed in making a row, he may take up one of his opponent's pieces, and he who takes off all of his opponent's pieces wins the game.

Related words: (words related to MORRIS)

• DANCER
  One who dances or who practices dancing. The merry dancers, beams of the northern lights when they rise and fall alternately without any considerable change of length. See Aurora borealis, under Aurora.
• SINGLE-BREASTED
  Lapping over the breast only far enough to permit of buttoning, and having buttons on one edge only; as, a single-breasted coast.
• COMMONER
  1. One of the common people; one having no rank of nobility. All below them even their children, were commoners, and in the eye law equal to each other. Hallam. 2. A member of the House of Commons. 3. One who has a joint right in common ground.
• FORMERLY
  In time past, either in time immediately preceding or at any indefinite distance; of old; heretofore.
• ORNAMENTAL
  Serving to ornament; characterized by ornament; beautifying; embellishing. Some think it most ornamental to wear their bracelets on their wrists; others, about their ankles. Sir T. Browne.
• DRESSINESS
  The state of being dressy.
• COMMONISH
  Somewhat common; commonplace; vulgar.
• SINGLE-ACTING
  Having simplicity of action; especially , acting or exerting force during strokes in one direction only; -- said of a reciprocating engine, pump, etc.
• COMMONLY
  1. Usually; generally; ordinarily; frequently; for the most part; as, confirmed habits commonly continue trough life. 2. In common; familiary. Spenser.
• SINGLE-HANDED
  Having but one hand, or one workman; also, alone; unassisted.
• COMMONWEALTH
  Specifically, the form of government established on the death of Charles I., in 1649, which existed under Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard, ending with the abdication of the latter in 1659. Syn. -- State; realm; republic. (more info) 1. A state;
• SINGLE-HEARTED
  Having an honest heart; free from duplicity. -- Sin"gle-heart"ed*ly, adv.
• DANCERESS
  A female dancer. Wyclif.
• OFTENNESS
  Frequency. Hooker.
• PERFORMANCE
  The act of performing; the carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action; as, the performance of an undertaking of a duty. Promises are not binding where the performance is impossible. Paley.
• GAMESOME
  Gay; sportive; playful; frolicsome; merry. Shak. Gladness of the gamesome crowd. Byron. -- Game"some*ly, adv. -- Game"some*ness, n.
• DRESS CIRCLE
  A gallery or circle in a theater, generally the first above the floor, in which originally dress clothes were customarily worn.
• COMMONITION
  Advice; warning; instruction. Bailey.
• DANCETTE
  Deeply indented; having large teeth; thus, a fess dancetté has only three teeth in the whole width of the escutcheon.
• OFTEN
  Frequently; many times; not seldom.
• UNDRESS
  To take the dressing, or covering, from; as, to undress a wound. (more info) 1. To divest of clothes; to strip. 2. To divest of ornaments to disrobe.
• DEMANDRESS
  A woman who demands.
• ASCENDANCY; ASCENDANCE
  See ASCENDENCY
• UNCOMMON
  Not common; unusual; infrequent; rare; hence, remarkable; strange; as, an uncommon season; an uncommon degree of cold or heat; uncommon courage. Syn. -- Rare; scarce; infrequent; unwonted. -- Un*com"mon*ly, adv. -- Un*com"mon*ness, n.
• COUNTRY-DANCE
  See MACUALAY
• AIDANCE
  Aid. Aidance 'gainst the enemy. Shak.
• FELLOW-COMMONER
  A student at Cambridge University, England, who commons, or dines, at the Fellow's table.
• OFFENDRESS
  A woman who offends. Shak.
• INTERCOMMON
  To graze cattle promiscuously in the commons of each other, as the inhabitants of adjoining townships, manors, etc. (more info) 1. To share with others; to participate; especially, to eat at the same table. Bacon.
• TENDANCE
  1. The act of attending or waiting; attendance. Spenser. The breath Of her sweet tendance hovering over him. Tennyson. 2. Persons in attendance; attendants. Shak.
• REDRESSIVE
  Tending to redress. Thomson.
• YIELDANCE
  1. The act of producing; yield; as, the yieldance of the earth. Bp. Hall. 2. The act of yielding; concession. South.