disguise
Americanverb (used with object)
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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.
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to conceal or cover up the truth or actual character of by a counterfeit form or appearance; misrepresent.
to disguise one's intentions.
noun
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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.
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the makeup, mask, costume, or overall changed appearance of an entertainer.
a clown's disguise.
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the act of disguising.
to speak without disguise.
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the state of being disguised; masquerade.
The gods appeared in disguise.
verb
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to modify the appearance or manner in order to conceal the identity of (oneself, someone, or something)
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(tr) to misrepresent in order to obscure the actual nature or meaning
to disguise the facts
noun
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a mask, costume, or manner that disguises
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the act of disguising or the state of being disguised
Other Word Forms
- disguisable adjective
- disguised adjective
- disguisedly adverb
- disguisedness noun
- disguisement noun
- disguiser noun
- nondisguised adjective
- predisguise noun
- undisguisable adjective
- undisguised adjective
- undisguisedly adverb
- well-disguised adjective
Etymology
Origin of disguise
1275–1325; Middle English disg ( u ) isen < Anglo-French, Old French de ( s ) guiser, equivalent to des- dis- 1 + -guiser, derivative of guise guise
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Owen thought for a minute about people he knew who might be polar bears in disguise.
From Literature
"I thought they were unadaptable," Reid says frankly of her books, which she first published anonymously online, disguised as fan fiction.
From BBC
Their research shows that pancreatic tumors use a sugar-based disguise to avoid detection by the immune system.
From Science Daily
In hindsight, it may have been a blessing in disguise, giving them an extra year to build.
From BBC
“I see danger in your Present,” my aunt boomed, both her acting and her disguise making her appear every bit a true mystic.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
