masque

IPA/mɑːsk/
IPA/mæsk/

masque — noun

  • masquesingular
  • masquesplural

1. a staged performance popular in England during the 1500s and 1600s, in which per

1.名詞C1
釋義

a staged performance popular in England during the 1500s and 1600s, in which performers wore masks and presented a show that mixed spoken verse, songs, and dances, often before a royal audience.

例句

In 1605 the playwright Ben Jonson wrote a masque that was performed for King James I at court.

historical context: performed for royalty at court

A masque from the 1600s often combined spoken verse, musical pieces, and group dances on stage.

同義詞
  • play

    broader term for any dramatic performance; not limited to the masked, mixed-genre style of the 16th–17th centuries

  • pageant

    public spectacle often held outdoors or as a procession; masques were staged indoor entertainments

  • entertainment

    much more general term that covers many types of shows

文法句型

masque + written/performed by [person]

masque + for [royal audience/event]

用法筆記

Frequently capitalised (Court Masque, Masque of Queens) when referring to a specific titled work. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense refers exclusively to staged performances of the Tudor and Stuart periods, not to modern costume parties.

常見錯誤

❌The queen watched a mask at court.
✅The queen watched a masque at court.
💡'masque' is the theatre form; 'mask' is what you wear on your face.
❌Shakespeare's plays are sometimes called masques.
✅Shakespeare wrote scenes that resemble masques, but masques were a separate genre by Jonson, Campion, and others.
💡'masque' names a specific historical genre, not any play with music.

2. a social gathering where guests wear decorative masks and costumes, sometimes fo

2.名詞C1
釋義

a social gathering where guests wear decorative masks and costumes, sometimes following a particular theme.

例句

Nellie wore a purple velvet mask to the Halloween masque at her friend's house.

Halloween masque: costume party with masks

The charity masque at the city museum raised money for local arts programmes.

同義詞
  • masquerade

    more common modern term for a masked party; 'masque' is rarer and more literary

  • costume party

    everyday term; does not necessarily involve masks

  • fancy dress party

    chiefly British English; costumes expected but masks optional

文法句型

masque + with [masks/costumes]

masque + at [venue]

host/attend a masque

用法筆記

This sense overlaps with masquerade; 'masque' is less common and may feel more literary or old-fashioned. The word itself already means a costume party — avoid adding 'party' after it (e.g. ❌ 'masque party').

常見錯誤

❌I'm going to a masque party tonight.
✅I'm going to a masque tonight.
💡'masque' already describes the party; adding 'party' is redundant.
❌The masquerade was a 17th-century court entertainment.
✅The masque was a 17th-century court entertainment.
💡'masquerade' today means a costume ball; the historical staged form is 'masque'.