"The Masque of the Red Death" Vocabulary

pestilence

a fatal epidemic disease

avatar

an embodiment of an idea

profuse

plentiful; abundant

dissolution

the breaking up or dissolving of something into parts; disintegration

dauntless

fearless

sagacious

wise

hale

strong and healthy

castellated

having grooves on its upper face

abbey

a building usually occupied by monks

eccentric

unconventional and slightly strange

august

respected and impressive

courtier

person who serves a royal court

ingess

an entrance

egress

an exit

contagion

disease spread by close contact

folly

foolishness

improvisatori

improvising poet

voluptuous

characterized by luxury or sensual attractiveness

masquerade (v)

to be disguised as something one is not

vista

a pleasing view

impede

to obstruct, to block

casements

window set on a hinge so that it opens like a door

candelabrum

large-branched candlestick

brazier

a stand for holding lighted coals

gaudy

extravagantly bright or showy

countenance

a person's face or facial expression

perforce

necessarily, inevitably

sedate (adj.)

calm, dignified, and unhurried

tremulous

shaking or quivering slightly

revel (n.)

lively and noisy festivity

fete

a celebration or festival

piquant

pleasantly stimulating to the mind

phantasm

a figment of the imagination; an illusion or apparition

arabesque

an ornamental design consisting of intertwined flowing lines

wanton

lively, playful

anon

soon; shortly

wane

to decrease in vigor, power, or extent

ruddy

having a healthy red color

sable

black

commence

to begin

cessation

a ceasing; an end

arrest

to stop or check (progress)

disapprobation

strong disapproval

out-Heroded Herod

to surpass in violence or extravagance

decorum

particular requirement of good taste and propriety

gaunt

lean and haggard, esp. because of suffering, hunger, or age

habiliments

clothing

mummer

an actor in a masked mime

battlements

parapets at the top of a castle with regularly-spaced, squared openings for shooting through

ere

before

impetuous

done quickly without thought or care

prostrate

lying stretched out on the ground with one's face downward

illimitable

without limits or an end

untenanted

not lived in

buffoon

a person who often makes attempts to be funny; a clown; a fool

pendulum

something that hangs and swings back and forth

brazen

bold and without shame; made of brass

lapse

cease being in force; become invalid

constrained

forced, compelled; confined, restrained

hearken

to listen attentively

disconcert

to frustrate; confuse

pervade

to spread throughout

embellishment

a decorative detail or feature added to something to make it more attractive

writhe

twist

blasphemous

irreverent, profane