VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

masque

noun·Advancedliterary

Last updated

UK/mɑːsk/
US/mæsk/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A ceremonial entertainment in the 16th and 17th centuries that combined music, dance, acting, and expensive costumes, performed for royalty and nobles.

    Grammar: Countable: one masque, several masques. Often used with 'a' or 'the'.

    Patterns

    • a masque was performed
    • the masque included music and dance
    • write a masque

    The court watched a masque that lasted for hours, with dancers in golden masks.

    Ben Jonson wrote several masques for the royal family.

    The masque ended with a grand procession of costumed figures.

  2. nouncountable or uncountable

    A dramatic or literary work in this style, or the genre itself.

    Grammar: Can be countable (a masque) or uncountable when referring to the art form (the masque was popular).

    Patterns

    • the masque tradition
    • a writer of masques
    • study the masque

    Scholars often study the masque as a form of political propaganda.

    The masque reached its height in the early 17th century.

    She wrote her thesis on the masque in English literature.

Word forms

pluralmasques

Common combinations

court masque
The court masque was performed for the king's birthday.
perform a masque
The actors performed a masque in the great hall.
masque and antimasque
The play featured a masque and antimasque, contrasting order and chaos.
Jacobean masque
The Jacobean masque often included elaborate stage machinery.

Synonyms and how they differ

pageant
A pageant is a public spectacle or parade, often outdoors, while a masque was a private, courtly entertainment with masked performers.
tableau
A tableau is a static scene, whereas a masque involved music, dance, and movement.

Word family

masquer noun
A person who takes part in a masque or masquerade.
masquerade noun
A masked ball or a false show; related in form and origin.

Commonly confused: masque or mask? masque or masquerade?

masque vs mask

Mask is the everyday word for a covering for the face or a disguise; masque is a historical theatrical entertainment. They sound the same in some accents.

masque vs masquerade

Masquerade can mean a costume party or a deception; masque is specifically a courtly entertainment.

Practice

Which sentence uses 'masque' correctly?

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “masque”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words