Sentence:  There are four fundamental figures. One is a man measuring and comparing his world... In front of him is a <WSD>macabre</WSD> figure, a cadaver ready to be dissected. This symbolizes man serving mankind. The third figure is the scientist, the man who makes use of the information gathered in the first two fields of mensurable science. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Representing or personifying death.