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.
–noun
3.
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.
4.
the makeup, mask, costume, or overall changed appearance of an entertainer: a clown's disguise.
5.
the act of disguising: to speak without disguise.
6.
the state of being disguised; masquerade: The gods appeared in disguise.
[Origin: 1275–1325; ME disg(u)isen < AF, OF de(s)guiser, equiv. to des-dis-1+ -guiser, deriv. of guiseguise]
To modify the manner or appearance of in order to prevent recognition.
To furnish with a disguise.
To conceal or obscure by dissemblance or false show; misrepresent: disguise one's true intentions.
n.
The act or an instance of disguising.
The condition of being disguised.
Appearance that misrepresents the true character of something: a blessing in disguise.
A pretense or misrepresentation: His repeated references to his dangerous hobbies were only a disguise to cover up his insecurity.
Clothes or accessories worn to conceal one's true identity.
Appearance that misrepresents the true character of something: a blessing in disguise.
A pretense or misrepresentation: His repeated references to his dangerous hobbies were only a disguise to cover up his insecurity.
[Middle English disguisen, from Old French desguiser : des-, dis- + guise, manner; see guise.]
dis·guis'ed·ly (-gī'zĭd-lē) adv., dis·guise'ment n., dis·guis'er n.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to change or modify so as to conceal the true identity or character of: disguised her interest with nonchalance; trying to camouflage their impatience; cloaked his anxiety with a smile; dissembling ill will with false solicitude; couldn't dissimulate his vanity; ambition that is masked as altruism.
c.1325, from O.Fr. desguisier, from des- "away, off" + guise "style, appearance." Originally primarily "to put out of one's usual manner" (of dress, etc.); noun meaning "a garb assumed in order to deceive" is first recorded 14c. Original sense preserved in phrase disguised with liquor (1562).
"It is most absurdly said, in popular language, of any man, that he is disguised in liquor; for, on the contrary, most men are disguised by sobriety." [Thomas de Quincy, "Confessions of an English Opium-Eater," 1856]
an outward semblance that misrepresents the true nature of something; "the theatrical notion of disguise is always associated with catastrophe in his stories"
2.
any attire that modifies the appearance in order to conceal the wearer's identity
3.
the act of concealing the identity of something by modifying its appearance; "he is a master of disguise"
verb
1.
make unrecognizable; "The herb masks the garlic taste"; "We disguised our faces before robbing the bank"
Con*ceal"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concealed; p. pr. & vb. n. Concealing.] [OF. conceler, L. concelare; con- + celareto hide; akin to AS. helan, G. hehlen, E. hele (to cover), helmet. See Hell, Helmet.] To hide or withdraw from observation; to cover; to cover or keep from sight; to prevent the discovery of; to withhold knowledge of. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing. --Prov. xxv. 2. Declare ye among the nations, . . . publish and conceal not. --Jer. l. 2. He which finds him shall deserve our thanks, . . . He that conceals him, death. --Shak. Syn: To hide; secrete; screen; cover; disguise; dissemble; mask; veil; cloak; screen. Usage: To Conceal, Hide, Disguise, Dissemble, Secrete. To hide is the generic term, which embraces all the rest. To conceal is simply not make known what we wish to keep secret. In the Bible hide often has the specific meaning of conceal. See --1 Sam. iii. 17, 18. To disguise or dissemble is to conceal by assuming some false appearance. To secrete is to hide in some place of secrecy. A man may conceal facts, disguise his sentiments, dissemble his feelings, secrete stolen goods. Bur double griefs afflict concealing hearts. --Spenser. Both dissemble deeply their affections. --Shak. We have in these words a primary sense, which reveals a future state, and a secondary sense, which hides and secretes it. --Warburton.
Dis*guise"\ (?; 232), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disguised; p. pr. & vb. n. Disguising.] [OE. desguisen, disgisen, degisen, OF. desguisier, F. d['e]guiser; pref. des- (L. dis-) + guise. See Guise.]1. To change the guise or appearance of; especially, to conceal by an unusual dress, or one intended to mislead or deceive. Bunyan was forced to disguise himself as a wagoner. --Macaulay. 2. To hide by a counterfeit appearance; to cloak by a false show; to mask; as, to disguise anger; to disguise one's sentiments, character, or intentions. All God's angels come to us disguised. --Lowell. 3. To affect or change by liquor; to intoxicate. I have just left the right worshipful, and his myrmidons, about a sneaker or five gallons; the whole magistracy was pretty well disguised before I gave them the ship. --Spectator. Syn: To conceal; hide; mask; dissemble; dissimulate; feign; pretend; secrete. See Conceal.
Dis*guise"\, n. 1. A dress or exterior put on for purposes of concealment or of deception; as, persons doing unlawful acts in disguise are subject to heavy penalties. There is no passion steals into the heart more imperceptibly and covers itself under more disguises, than pride. --Addison. 2. Artificial language or manner assumed for deception; false appearance; counterfeit semblance or show. That eye which glances through all disguises. --D. Webster. 3. Change of manner by drink; intoxication. --Shak. 4. A masque or masquerade. [Obs.] Disguise was the old English word for a masque. --B. Jonson.
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