Vocabulary and Key Terms from 'The Masque of the Red Death' by Poe

Abbey

a church building used by a community of monks and nuns.

Arabesque

elaborately designed.

Avatar

somebody who embodies, personifies, or is the manifestation of an idea or concept.

Brazen

bold or shameless.

Brazier

a metal container used outdoors for burning coal or charcoal; firepit.

Buffoons

people that amuse others by clowning, joking, or by ridiculous behavior.

Candelabrum

a large candleholder with several arms and branches.

Casements

a window that opens on hinges.

Conceptions

general understanding of something.

Contagion

the transmission of disease, especially by physical contact between persons or contact with infected objects such as bedding or clothing.

Countenances

somebody's face, or the expression on it.

Courtiers

people that spend time at a royal court or attend the king or queen.

Dauntless

unlikely or unable to be frightened or discouraged.

Defiance

open, bold, or hostile refusal to obey or conform.

Depopulated

a reduction in the number of residents in an area through, for example, disease, war, famine, or enforced location.

Disconcert

to feel uneasy, confused or taken back.

Dissolution

the breaking up or destruction of an organization or institution.

Dominions

ruling power, authority, or control; somebody's area of influence or control.

Eccentric

unconventional, especially in a whimsical way.

Egress

the act of coming or going out or from leaving a place.

Folly

a thoughtless or reckless act or idea.

Frenzy

a state of uncontrolled activity, agitation or emotions such as excitement.

Gaudy

brightly colored or showily decorated to an unpleasant or vulgar degree.

Gay

happy or carefree.

Ghastly

horrifying, shocking or upsetting.

Girdled

a woman's elasticized foundation garment or corset.

Habiliments

clothing or garments.

Hale

to compel somebody to go somewhere, especially to court; to pull to drag.

Harken

to listen and pay attention.

Hue

color.

Improvisatori(y)

someone that does something without rehearsal or preparation; improvise.

Ingress

entry to a place.

Monotonous

repetitive and boring.

Mummer

a masked and costumed person who acts out pantomimes (a person who acts without speaking, using gestures and expression).

Perforce

forced.

Pervaded

spread through or to be present throughout something.

Phantasm

something apparently seen but having no physical reality; ghost or illusion.

Piquancy

a pleasantly sharp quality; refreshingly interesting, stimulating or provocative.

Precincts

area surrounding a building or institution such as a cathedral or college.

Profusion

a large quantity of something.

Revery

a state of idle and pleasant contemplation; deep thinking.

Sagacious

having or based on a profound knowledge and understanding of the world combined with intelligence and good judgment.

Scarlet

a hue or color of red tinged with orange.

Sedate

subdued or lacking any sense of hurry or urgency.

Tapestries

a heavy fabric with a woven pattern or picture, used as a wall hanging.

Tremulousness

shaking, trembling, quivering out for fear or nervousness.

Tripod

a frame or stand with three legs.

Vista

a scenic or panoramic view.

Voluptuous

sensual in appearance.

Windings

made of many consecutive curves or twists.