# dais

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈdeɪ.ɪs/ · frequency rank #45,873

## Definitions
1. A raised platform in a room for a high table, a seat of honour, a throne, or other dignified occupancy, such as ancestral statues; a similar platform supporting a lectern, pulpit, etc., which may be used to speak from.
2. A bench, a settle, a pew.
3. An elevated table in a hall at which important people were seated; a high table.
4. The canopy over an altar, etc.

## Etymology
From Middle English deis, from Anglo-Norman deis, from Old French deis, dois (modern French dais), from Latin discum, accusative singular of discus (“discus, disc, quoit; dish”) (Late Latin discum (“table”)), from Ancient Greek δίσκος (dískos, “discus, disc; tray”), from δικεῖν (dikeîn, “to cast, to throw; to strike”). Cognate with Italian desco, Occitan des. Doublet of desk, disc, discus, dish, disk, and diskos.

## Easily confused with
- **di** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-di)
- **DS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-ds)
- **did** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-did)
- **day** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-day)
- **die** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-die)
- **dan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-dan)
- **Des** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-des)
- **dig** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-dig)
- **dam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-dam)
- **dip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-dip)
- **DIY** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-diy)
- **das** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-das)
- **dis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-dis)
- **DOS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-dos)
- **dim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-dim)
- **DIN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-din)
- **dat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-dat)
- **DJs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-djs)
- **div** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-div)
- **DUI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dais-vs-dui)

## Common misspellings (3)
`daiss`, `dasi`, `ddais`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dais