Prances

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To advance with lively, bounding steps that reflect cheer To exhibit a playful and spirited demeanor while moving To hop or skip about with energy and enthusiasm in one's movements
2. To move forward with energetic, springy steps often reflecting joy or spirited behavior
3. To walk or step in a lively, bouncy manner that suggests excitement or playfulness

Etymology: "Prances" is simply the third-person singular form of "prance," so its story is really the story of the verb. The surprise is that "prance" once meant something closer to showing off than to bouncing about. Middle English had "prancen" and "prauncen," meaning to show off, and these were variants of "pranken," meaning to prank, which is probably where the trail connects to "prank" itself. The sense of flashy display, of putting on airs, came first, and the image of a horse stepping high and proudly came later. German dialects keep the older flavour alive. Bavarian "prangezen" and "prangssen" mean to put on airs, and Alemannic "pranzen" means to strut. Across these related forms, the common thread is ostentatious self-display rather than mere movement.

Synonyms: gambol, caper, frolic

Antonyms: plod, trudge