prance

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

prance, v. i. [OE. prauncen; probably akin to prank, v. t. See Prank.].

•  To spring or bound, as a horse in high mettle.  [1913 Webster]

  "Now rule thy prancing steed."  [1913 Webster]
•  To ride on a prancing horse; to ride in an ostentatious manner.  [1913 Webster]

  "The insulting tyrant prancing o'er the field."  [1913 Webster]
•  To walk or strut about in a pompous, showy manner, or with warlike parade.  Swift.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

prance, v. & n.
--v.intr.
1 (of a horse) raise the forelegs and spring from the hind legs.
2 (often foll. by about) walk or behave in an elated or arrogant manner.
--n.
1 the act of prancing.
2 a prancing movement.

Derivative

prancer n.

Etymology

ME: orig. unkn.

THESAURUS

prance

amble, barge, bob, bounce, bound, bowl along, bundle, canter, caper, capriole, caracole, cavort, clog, clump, curvet, cut a dido, cut capers, dance, dido, drag, droop, falcade, flounce, foot, footslog, fox-trot, frisk, gait, gallop, gambade, gambado, gambol, go on horseback, hack, halt, hippety-hop, hitch, hobble, hoof, hop, jog, jolt, jump, jump about, leap, limp, lock step, lope, lumber, lunge, lurch, mince, mincing steps, mount, pace, paddle, peacock, peg, piaffe, piaffer, plod, rack, ramp, ride bareback, ride hard, roll, romp, sashay, saunter, scuff, scuffle, scuttle, shake, shamble, shimmy, shuffle, sidle, single-foot, skip, slink, slither, slog, slouch, slowness, spring, stagger, stalk, stamp, step, stomp, straddle, straggle, stride, stroll, strolling gait, strut, stump, swagger, swank, swash, swashbuckle, swing, take horse, tap-dance, tittup, toddle, totter, traipse, tread, trip, trot, trudge, velocity, waddle, walk, waltz, wamble, wiggle, wobble

ROGET THESAURUS

prance

Journey

VB travel, journey, course, take a journey, go a journey, take a walk, go out for walk, have a run, take the air, flit, take wing, migrate, emigrate, trek, rove, prowl, roam, range, patrol, pace up and down, traverse, scour the country, traverse the country, peragrate, circumambulate, perambulate, nomadize, wander, ramble, stroll, saunter, hover, go one's rounds, straggle, gad, gad about, expatiate, walk, march, step, tread, pace, plod, wend, go by shank's mare, promenade, trudge, tramp, stalk, stride, straddle, strut, foot it, hoof it, stump, bundle, bowl along, toddle, paddle, tread a path, take horse, ride, drive, trot, amble, canter, prance, fisk, frisk, caracoler, caracole, gallop, embark, board, set out, hit the road, get going, get underway, peg on, jog on, wag on, shuffle on, stir one's stumps, bend one's steps, bend one's course, make one's way, find one's way, wend one's way, pick one's way, pick one's way, thread one's way, plow one's way, slide, glide, coast, skim, skate, march in procession, file on, defile, go to, repair to, resort to, hie to, betake oneself to.

Agitation

VB be agitated, shake, tremble, tremble like an aspen leaf, quiver, quaver, quake, shiver, twitter, twire, writhe, toss, shuffle, tumble, stagger, bob, reel, sway, wag, waggle, wriggle, wriggle like an eel, dance, stumble, shamble, flounder, totter, flounce, flop, curvet, prance, cavort, squirm, throb, pulsate, beat, palpitate, go pitapat, flutter, flitter, flicker, bicker, bustle, ferment, effervesce, foam, boil, boil over, bubble up, simmer, toss about, jump about, jump like a parched pea, shake like an aspen leaf, shake to its center, shake to its foundations, be the sport of the winds and waves, reel to and fro like a drunken man, move from post to pillar and from pillar to post, drive from post to pillar and from pillar to post, keep between hawk and buzzard, agitate, shake, convulse, toss, tumble, bandy, wield, brandish, flap, flourish, whisk, jerk, hitch, jolt, jog, joggle, jostle, buffet, hustle, disturb, stir, shake up, churn, jounce, wallop, whip, vellicate.