Question

Read the sentence from Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," and then answer the question. "The figure was tall and gaunt, and shrouded from head to foot in the habiliments of the grave." What is the BEST meaning of gaunt as it is used in the sentence? A. skeletal B. wasted C. slender D. withered

Answer 1

Answer: The best meaning of "gaunt" as it is used in the sentence provided is A. skeletal.

Explanation: "Gaunt" is an adjetive used to describe someone as very thin and haggard. In the sentence provided, the word "gaunt" has been used to describe a sinister figure; therefore, in this case, the best meaning of "gaunt" is "skeletal". "Skeletal" is also an adjective and it makes reference to someone that does not have a lot of flesh, that is to say someone that resembles a skeleton.