What is a dais? Answered

[Diana Lucas]

Melly asked:
>>>This may seem silly to some, but I'm clueless as to
what a dais is (from the room where Sirius died). I
couldn't picture it at all, which I didn't let bother
me, but then Sirius fell through the veil, and I sn't
sure what I should be picturing. Could someone please
explain to me that set up more clearly, with the veil
and all, considering that I don't know what a dais is.
If you could explain it me "like I'm an
eight-year-old" that would be good. :-) Such an
important moment and I'm left huh?-ing over how Sirius
falls through the veil. Oy. I'd hate to stick with my
lame version that I had to picture.
And is it pronounced like daze? I've checked two
dictionaries, and I must be exceptionally pid, 'cause
neither of them are clear. It starts with a 'day' 
sound; is it 'day-is' or 'daze'? Or neither? 
 
Melly<<<<<<

I answer:  
A dais (pronounced day-iss, with the 'iss' like in
'hiss) is, in this case, a low raised platfrom in the
middle of a room from which a speaker [or archway in
OOP] uses to speak from as it is designed to draw the
eyes in the room to the middle of the platfrom.  Think
of very wide low step big enough to be a platform,
perhaps two or three steps up in the case of OOP.  

Diana L.




 



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