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

Mariana Flores, a 33-year-old contractor who also says Roemer lured her to his house under the guise of a work offer in 2011, then touched and kissed against her will, was one of the women pushed over the edge by Roemer’s denial.

From Time

Arizona follows Georgia, Texas and Florida in enacting voting restrictions under the guise of “election integrity” over the last few weeks.

From Time

Even Ben Long sits, to the far right, in the guise of Doubting Thomas.

From Washington Post

An entire group — the theropods — walked on two legs and still do in their avian guises.

From Science News

For years, the San Diego City Council has been approving the grant applications, effectively buying a wide range of tools under the guise of terrorism preparedness, without any meaningful vetting.

From Voice of San Diego

In the respectable guise of religious liberty, the zombie-like Culture War soldiers on.

From The Daily Beast

Campaigns often exchange outrageous attacks but to do so in the guise of a government mailer is quite unusual.

From The Daily Beast

And under the guise of exercise there exists a community that welcomes them with open arms.

From The Daily Beast

During the chaos, many old grudges were settled, sometimes under the guise of overdue justice.

From The Daily Beast

These changes are being made under the guise of fixing a country on the verge of collapse.

From The Daily Beast

Never had Tom seen his gay and careless cousin in such guise: he was restless, silent, intense and inarticulate.

From Project Gutenberg

Even the air has its strange denizens in the guise of huge beetles and vampire-winged flying foxes.

From Project Gutenberg

Under the guise of apparent indifference his mind kept the Canadian under constant observation.

From Project Gutenberg

Beyond the door he could see something in the guise of a foreman printer with a damp news sheet in his hand.

From Project Gutenberg

The latter appointed to the vacant estates and positions members of her house—that of Guise.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disguise