disguise

[ dis-gahyz, dih-skahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, dis·guised, dis·guis·ing.

1. to change the appearance or guise of so as to conceal identity or mislead, as by means of deceptive garb:

   The king was disguised as a peasant.

2. to conceal or cover up the truth or actual character of by a counterfeit form or appearance; misrepresent:

   to disguise one's intentions.

   Synonyms: dissemble, hide, mask, cloak

noun

1. that which disguises; something that serves or is intended for concealment of identity, character, or quality; a deceptive covering, condition, manner, etc.:

   Noble words can be the disguise of base intentions.

2. the makeup, mask, costume, or overall changed appearance of an entertainer:

   a clown's disguise.

3. the act of disguising:

   to speak without disguise.

4. the state of being disguised; masquerade:

   The gods appeared in disguise.

disguise

/ dɪsˈɡaɪzɪdlɪ; dɪsˈɡaɪz /

verb

1. to modify the appearance or manner in order to conceal the identity of (oneself, someone, or something)
2. tr to misrepresent in order to obscure the actual nature or meaning

   to disguise the facts

noun

1. a mask, costume, or manner that disguises
2. the act of disguising or the state of being disguised

Derived Forms

• disˈguisable, adjective
• disˈguiser, noun
• disguisedly, adverb
• disˈguised, adjective

Other Words From

• dis·guisa·ble adjective
• dis·guised·ly adverb
• dis·guised·ness noun
• dis·guiser noun
• dis·guisement noun
• nondis·guised adjective
• predis·guise noun verb (used with object) predisguised predisguising
• undis·guisa·ble adjective
• undis·guised adjective
• undis·guised·ly adverb
• well-dis·guised adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disguise¹

1275–1325; Middle English disg ( u ) isen < Anglo-French, Old French de ( s ) guiser, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + -guiser, derivative of guise guise

Word History and Origins

Origin of disguise¹

C14: from Old French desguisier, from des- dis- ¹+ guise manner; see guise

Idioms and Phrases

see blessing in disguise .

Example Sentences

Labour’s Bell Ribeiro-Addy said she had been told of human remains frequently auctioned “disguised as modified items or replicas”.

From BBC

Prosecutors said that Trump tried to disguise reimbursements to his personal attorney, who had paid off an adult film star with whom Trump allegedly had an affair.

From BBC

For example, Border Morris, originating in the Welsh border counties of Shropshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, features performers who wear tatter coats and often paint their faces or use other forms of disguise.

From BBC

And the scout team — there’s a blessing in disguise underneath all of this.

From Los Angeles Times

The skeleton of Splash Mountain and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is the same, that is the ride still features its cleverly designed track layout, one that manages to disguise twists, turns and drops.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• alter
• belie
• camouflage
• cloak
• conceal
• cover up
• deceive
• dress up
• gloss over
• hide
• mask
• misrepresent
• obscure