Kilo Lingo

le

masculine

/mask/

Line drawing of masque
Coloured illustration of masque
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Translation

mask

Word origin

Borrowed in the sixteenth century from Italian maschera. Beyond that the trail is disputed.

Origin
Italian
Root
maschera
English cognates
mask, mascara, masquerade

Other proposed origins

  • Most often traced to Late Latin masca ('spectre, witch'), attested in a seventh-century Lombard law. (masca)
  • Others derive it from Arabic maskhara ('buffoon, object of ridicule'), taken into Italian through trade with the Mediterranean. (maskhara)

Grammar

Gendermasculine
Pluralmasques

Examples

l' chirurgical.

The hospital staff wear a surgical mask.

vénitien .

She brought back a Venetian mask from her trip.

' .

A diving mask costs less than you would think.

Au ' , l'.

After an hour the mask slips and you see the man.

grecs .

Greek actors performed behind a wooden mask.

Where this fits

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French · Free printables

masque: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the French word "masque" (mask): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is part of lesson 35.