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

Besigye's allies and wife have come out to reveal harrowing details of how the opposition chief was apparently lured to meet his abductors, said to have disguised themselves as Kenyan security agents.

From BBC

If we are forced to make our democracy anew in order to save it, then perhaps this moment of great peril is actually a blessing in disguise.

From Salon

They have also warned that restrictions could easily be circumvented through tools like a VPN - which can disguise a user’s location and make them appear to be logging on from another country.

From BBC

“It’s actually a blessing in disguise,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

This narrative mirrors historical efforts to disguise exclusion as neutrality and is built on a lie.

From Salon

Related Words

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