Definition

Noun: 1. A person who wears a mask, especially at a masquerade or a masked ball. A "masker" is someone who participates in an event where concealing one's identity with a mask is a central feature. 2. (Archaic) An actor in a masque. Historically, a "masker" could refer to a performer in a "masque," a form of festive courtly entertainment popular in the 16th and 17th centuries that involved music, dancing, singing, and acting, often with elaborate costumes and masks.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The grand ballroom was filled with elegant maskers, their identities hidden behind ornate Venetian masks.
  • At the carnival, every masker moved through the streets in a swirl of color and mystery.

Advanced Usage

• "To go a-masking": An archaic phrase meaning to participate in a masquerade or to go about in disguise.
  • In the 18th century, it was fashionable for nobility to go a-masking during the season.

Variants and Related Words

• Masquerade (n/v): A social gathering of people wearing masks and costumes; to pretend to be someone or something else.
  • The charity event was a lavish masquerade.
  • He masqueraded as a security guard to gain entry.
• Mask (n/v): A covering for the face; to conceal or disguise.
  • She wore a beautiful lace mask.
  • He tried to mask his disappointment with a smile.

Synonyms

• Masquerader: A direct synonym for a participant in a masquerade.
• Reveler: A person who is enjoying themselves in a lively and noisy way, often at a party (may or may not be masked).
• Disguiser: One who alters their appearance to conceal their identity.

Related Phrases

• To be in mask: To be wearing a mask or to be disguised.
  • The entire party was in mask, making introductions impossible.

Noun

1. a participant in a masquerade