masque

American  

[mask, mahsk] / mæsk, mɑsk /

Or mask

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.

3. a masquerade; masked ball; revel.

4. mask.

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masque British  

/ 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

3. short for masquerade

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Etymology

Origin of masque

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

Example Sentences

Additionally, lyrics like “Cherokee alley/something about a basement” refer to the long-gone Masque.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2024

The House of Usher was released in 1960 and was followed by a string of others including The Raven, The Masque of the Red Death and The Tomb of Ligeia.

From BBC • May 12, 2024

Here is just one piece of it: a memory from an evening at Masque when the restaurant was still young.

From New York Times • Sep. 29, 2022

In Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Masque of the Red Death," attendees of a festive ball held during a mysterious pestilence meet their doom.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2022

Jonson has addressed several verses to him, and composed a Masque for the splendid entertainment which he gave to Charles I., at his house at Wellbeck, when the king was on his first northern journey.

From Dryden's Works Vol. 3 (of 18) Sir Martin Mar-All; The Tempest; An Evening's Love; Tyrannic Love by Dryden, John