Sentence:  The <WSD>carol</WSD>, a combination of dance, music and song performed by a group, has a parallel history [to the mystery plays]. Although it existed earlier as a secular form – the round dance of which St Hugh's biographer was reminded by the shafts at Lincoln – it seems to have been turned to pious uses from about 1350. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A round dance accompanied by singing.