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

/ dɪsˈɡaɪz; dɪsˈɡaɪzɪdlɪ /

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

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

He mentioned on Football Night in America that losing Dak might be a “blessing in disguise.”

From FiveThirtyEight

The historian Kim Phillips-Fein thinks this may be at least a small blessing in disguise.

From Freakonomics

A new normal of a mere 100 guests, to begin with, was not something many couples could have imagined, but is a change that they see as a blessing in disguise.

From Quartz

In August, Logically helped alert Utah officials to the fact that an anti-sex-trafficking event was actually a QAnon march in disguise, leading to its permit being revoked.

From Ozy

In that sense, the reduced supply of khat — even without a formal ban — has been a blessing in disguise, says Somali anti-khat campaigner Abukar Awale, who is backing a petition to Somalia’s government that seeks to make the drug illegal.

From Ozy

And Pope Alexander VI had the painter Pinturicchio disguise his mistress as the Virgin Mary in one fresco.

From The Daily Beast

Tumid and unstoppable, there is little that new wallpaper or re-poured driveways can do to disguise it.

From The Daily Beast

Maybe, then, the Hathahate phenomenon is a blessing in disguise.

From The Daily Beast

Roberts and the Republicans are trying to portray the independent as a Barack Obama supporter who is just a Democrat in disguise.

From The Daily Beast

Rivers, it had emerged, had told them she was Ruth Madoff in disguise, and not to speak to her or approach her when she walked in.

From The Daily Beast

Napoleon landed at Elba at an early hour in disguise, with a sergeant's company of marines.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a habit with him to disguise himself in ordinary clothing and then to go out and mingle with the common people.

From Project Gutenberg

In short, I shall begin life all over again—as if I were a criminal in disguise instead of the sport of circumstances.

From Project Gutenberg

But then who is there that can bear so total a disguise as filth and untidiness spread over a woman?

From Project Gutenberg

Isn't that Squid Murphy over there in the corner, trying to disguise himself as a corner of that safe?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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