antimasque: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowLiterary/Historical
Quick answer
What does “antimasque” mean?
A comic, grotesque, or disorderly performance that precedes or contrasts with a formal masque.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A comic, grotesque, or disorderly performance that precedes or contrasts with a formal masque.
Any contrasting or preparatory piece that serves as a foil to a more serious or elegant main work; in modern usage, sometimes extended metaphorically to describe a chaotic or absurd prelude to a formal event.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional differences in meaning or usage, as the term is historical and literary. Both varieties use it in the same specialized contexts.
Connotations
Scholarly, archaic, specific to Renaissance drama studies.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, confined to academic discussions of Jacobean and Caroline masques.
Grammar
How to Use “antimasque” in a Sentence
The antimasque served as [a chaotic prelude] to the main masque.Ben Jonson wrote several antimasques that [featured professional actors].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, theatre history, and Renaissance studies to analyse the structure of early modern court entertainments.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
A technical term in drama and performance studies denoting a specific genre component.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “antimasque”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “antimasque”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “antimasque”
- Misspelling as 'anti-mask' (confusing with a facial covering).
- Using it to refer to any mask or disguise.
- Assuming it is a modern term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare, specialised historical term used almost exclusively in academic contexts related to Renaissance drama.
No, it is solely a noun. There is no standard verb form 'to antimasque'.
A masque was a formal, aristocratic entertainment with allegorical themes, often involving courtiers as performers. An antimasque was its contrasting prelude, typically comic, grotesque, and performed by professionals.
The playwright Ben Jonson is particularly noted for his development of the antimasque form in his collaborations with the architect and designer Inigo Jones for the Stuart court.
A comic, grotesque, or disorderly performance that precedes or contrasts with a formal masque.
Antimasque is usually literary/historical in register.
Antimasque: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæntɪˌmɑːsk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæntiˌmæsk/ or /ˈæntaɪˌmæsk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think ANTI-MASQUE: the ANTI-thesis (opposite) of the formal MASQUE—chaotic versus orderly.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORDER VS CHAOS (the antimasque represents controlled disorder that highlights the subsequent ideal order).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of an antimasque?