disguise

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) Material (such as clothing, makeup, a wig) used to alter one’s visual appearance in order to hide one's identity or assume another.
2. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) The appearance of something on the outside which masks what’s beneath.
3. (countable, uncountable) The act or state of disguising, notably as a ploy.
4. (archaic, countable, uncountable) A change of behaviour resulting from intoxication, drunkenness.

Verb

1. (transitive) To change the appearance of (a person or thing) so as to hide, or to assume an identity.
2. (obsolete, transitive) To transform or disfigure, to change the appearance of in general.
3. (transitive) To avoid giving away or revealing (something secret); to hide by a false appearance.
4. (obsolete, transitive) To dress in newfangled or showy clothing, to deck out in new fashions.
5. (intransitive, obsolete) To dissemble, to talk or act falsely while concealing one’s thoughts.
6. (archaic, transitive) To affect or change by liquor; to intoxicate.

Synonyms

mask

😷

camouflage

conceal

hide

cover

masquerade

veil

pretend

transform

dissemble

obscure

impersonate

deception

keep secret

transfigure

secrete

personate

concealment

incarnate

embody

dress up

cloak

costume

dissimulate

get-up

cover up

shroud

pretence

costumes

feign

masking

misrepresent

pretense

imitation

hush up

guise

distort

dissimulation

hiding

fake

screen

cipher

disfigure

case

blanket

deceit

cover-up

carpet

guile

grow over

Translations

déguisement

disfraz

Verkleidung

déguiser

disfrazar

travestimento

disfarçar

camuffamento

travestire

Tarnung

camouflage

disfarce

μεταμφίεση

verhullen

vermomming

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dɪsˈɡaɪz/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: disgisen

Cognate with French: déguiser

In summary

From Middle English disgisen, disguisen, borrowed from Old French desguiser (modern French déguiser), itself derived from des- (“dis-”) (from Latin dis-) + guise (“guise”) (from a Germanic source).