mask β a form of aristocratic entertainment in England in the 16th and 17th centuries, originally consisting of pantomime and dancing but later including dialogue and song, presented in elaborate productions given by amateur and professional actors.
shade β the comparative darkness caused by the interception or screening of rays of light from an object, place, or area.
confuse β If you confuse two things, you get them mixed up, so that you think one of them is the other one.
distort β to twist awry or out of shape; make crooked or deformed: Arthritis had distorted his fingers.
distract β to draw away or divert, as the mind or attention: The music distracted him from his work.
impair β to make or cause to become worse; diminish in ability, value, excellence, etc.; weaken or damage: to impair one's health; to impair negotiations.
muddle β to mix up in a confused or bungling manner; jumble.
perplex β to cause to be puzzled or bewildered over what is not understood or certain; confuse mentally: Her strange response perplexed me.
puzzle β a toy, problem, or other contrivance designed to amuse by presenting difficulties to be solved by ingenuity or patient effort.
addle β If something addles someone's mind or brain, they become confused and unable to think properly.
befuddle β If something befuddles you, it confuses your mind or thoughts.
disorient β to cause to lose one's way: The strange streets disoriented him.
blur β A blur is a shape or area which you cannot see clearly because it has no distinct outline or because it is moving very fast.
eclipse β Astronomy. the obscuration of the light of the moon by the intervention of the earth between it and the sun (lunar eclipse) or the obscuration of the light of the sun by the intervention of the moon between it and a point on the earth (solar eclipse) a similar phenomenon with respect to any other planet and either its satellite or the sun. the partial or complete interception of the light of one component of a binary star by the other.
fade β to lose brightness or vividness of color.
tarnish β to dull the luster of (a metallic surface), especially by oxidation; discolor.
haze β vagueness or obscurity, as of the mind or perception; confused or vague thoughts, feelings, etc.: The victims were still in a haze and couldn't describe the accident.
lower β to cause to descend; let or put down: to lower a flag.
pale β light-colored or lacking in color: a pale complexion; his pale face; a pale child. lacking the usual intensity of color due to fear, illness, stress, etc.: She looked pale and unwell when we visited her in the nursing home.
turn down β to cause to move around on an axis or about a center; rotate: to turn a wheel.
blacken β To blacken something means to make it black or very dark in colour. Something that blackens becomes black or very dark in colour.
smear β to spread or daub (an oily, greasy, viscous, or wet substance) on or over something: to smear butter on bread.
blotch β A blotch is a small unpleasant-looking area of colour, for example on someone's skin.
botch β If you botch something that you are doing, you do it badly or clumsily.
coat β A coat is a piece of clothing with long sleeves which you wear over your other clothes when you go outside.
contaminate β If something is contaminated by dirt, chemicals, or radiation, they make it dirty or harmful.
corrupt β Someone who is corrupt behaves in a way that is morally wrong, especially by doing dishonest or illegal things in return for money or power.
debase β To debase something means to reduce its value or quality.
decay β When something such as a dead body, a dead plant, or a tooth decays, it is gradually destroyed by a natural process.
