guise

¹

[ gahyz ]

noun

1. general external appearance; aspect; semblance:

   an old principle in a new guise.

   Synonyms: shape, form

2. assumed appearance or mere semblance:

   under the guise of friendship.

3. style of dress:

   in the guise of a shepherd.

4. Archaic. manner; mode.

verb (used with object)

, guised, guis·ing.

1. to dress; attire:

   children guised as cowboys.

verb (used without object)

, guised, guis·ing.

1. Scot. and North England. to appear or go in disguise.

Guise

²

[ geez ]

noun

1. Fran·çois de Lor·raine [f, r, ah, n, -, swa, d, uh, law-, ren], 2nd Duc de, 1519–63, French general and statesman.
2. his son Hen·ri I de Lorraine [ah, n, -, ree], Duc de, 1550–88, French general and leader of opposition to the Huguenots.

guise

/ ɡaɪz /

noun

1. semblance or pretence

   under the guise of friendship

2. external appearance in general
3. archaic.
   manner or style of dress
4. obsolete.
   customary behaviour or manner

verb

1. dialect.
   to disguise or be disguised in fancy dress
2. archaic.
   tr to dress or dress up

Word History and Origins

Origin of guise¹

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English g ( u ) ise < Old French < Germanic; wise ²: (v.) Middle English gisen, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of guise¹

C13: from Old French guise, of Germanic origin; see wise ²

Synonym Study

See appearance.

Example Sentences

All three candidates lost — Lamm received just 13,000 votes — bringing an end to what Pope described as the first modern battle to bring white supremacy into mainstream America under the guise of environmentalism.

From Salon

Mr Jahangir said the three people were accused of “committing espionage for the occupying regime of Israel” and “transporting equipment into Iran for the assassination of martyr Fakhrizadeh under the guise of smuggling alcoholic beverages”.

From BBC

His love for stirring media controversy, combined with a chameleon-like knack for shifting his persona to suit any audience under the guise of “Midwestern charm,” revealed a strategic mind not to be underestimated.

From Salon

Some like Luke, an aspiring model who told me he was recruited under the guise of attending an A&F photoshoot, said they had been misled and not told sex was involved.

From BBC

Jim Fletcher, kitted out like a mad scientist on a retro electronics kick, shadows the president as though he were prancing around in his twisted dreams, sometimes in the guise of an unusually tall rodent.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disguise