masque

or mask

[ mask, mahsk ]
See synonyms for masque on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a form of aristocratic entertainment in England in the 16th and 17th centuries, originally consisting of pantomime and dancing but later including dialogue and song, presented in elaborate productions given by amateur and professional actors.

  2. a dramatic composition for such entertainment.

  1. a masquerade; masked ball; revel.

Origin of masque

1
From Middle French, dating back to 1505–15; see origin at mask

Words that may be confused with masque

Words Nearby masque

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use masque in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for masque

masque

mask

/ (mɑːsk) /


noun
  1. a dramatic entertainment of the 16th to 17th centuries in England, consisting of pantomime, dancing, dialogue, and song, often performed at court

  2. the words and music written for a masque

  1. short for masquerade

Origin of masque

1
C16: variant of mask

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012