What does disguise mean?

Definitions for disguise
dɪsˈgaɪz, dɪˈskaɪzdis·guise

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word disguise.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. disguise, camouflagenoun

    an outward semblance that misrepresents the true nature of something

    "the theatrical notion of disguise is always associated with catastrophe in his stories"

  2. disguisenoun

    any attire that modifies the appearance in order to conceal the wearer's identity

  3. disguise, camouflageverb

    the act of concealing the identity of something by modifying its appearance

    "he is a master of disguise"

  4. disguise, maskverb

    make unrecognizable

    "The herb masks the garlic taste"; "We disguised our faces before robbing the bank"

Wiktionary

  1. disguisenoun

    An attire (e.g. clothing) used to hide one's identity or assume another.

    That cape and mask complete his disguise

  2. disguisenoun

    The appearance of something on the outside which masks what's beneath.

  3. disguisenoun

    The act of disguising, notably as a ploy

    Any disguise may expose soldiers to be deemed enemy spies

  4. disguiseverb

    To change the appearance of (a person or thing) so as to hide, or to assume an identity.

    Spies often disguise themselves.

  5. disguiseverb

    To prevent giving away or revealing (something secret).

    He disguised his true intentions.

  6. Etymology: disgisen, disguisen, borrowed from desguiser (modern déguiser), itself derived from des- "dis-" (from dis-) + guise "guise" (from a Germanic source).

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Disguisenoun

    Etymology: from the verb.

    They generally act in a disguise themselves, and therefore mistake all outward show and appearances for hypocrisy in others. Joseph Addison, Spectator, №. 170.

    You see we’ve burnt our cheeks; and mine own tongue
    Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
    Antickt us. William Shakespeare, Anthony and Cleopatra.

    A sudden thought then starting in his mind,
    Since I in Arcite cannot Arcite find,
    The world may search in vain with all their eyes,
    But never penetrate through this disguise. John Dryden, Fables.

    Hence guilty joys, distastes, surmises,
    False oaths, false tears, deceits, disguises. Alexander Pope.

  2. To Disguiseverb

    Etymology: deguiser, French; dis and guise.

    How might we disguise him?
    ———— Alas, I know not: there is no woman’s gown big enough for him. William Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor.

    Disguis’d he came; but those his children dear
    Their parent soon discern’d, though in disguise. John Milton, P. L.

    They saw the faces, which too well they knew,
    Though then disguis’d in death, and smear’d all o’er
    With filth obscene, and dropping putrid gore. John Dryden, Æn.

    Ulysses wakes, not knowing the place where he was; because Minerva made all things appear in a disguised view. Alexander Pope.

    I have just left the right worshipful, and his myrmidons, about a sneaker of five gallons: the whole magistracy was pretty well disguised before I gave them the slip. Spectator.

Wikipedia

  1. Disguise

    A disguise can be anything which conceals or changes a person's physical appearance, including a wig, glasses, makeup, fake moustache, costume or other items. Camouflage is a type of disguise for people, animals and objects. Hats, glasses, changes in hair style or wigs, plastic surgery, and make-up are also used. Disguises can be used by criminals, terrorists, and secret agents seeking to avoid identification. A person working for an agency trying to get information might go 'undercover' to get information without being recognised by the public; a celebrity may go 'incognito' in order to avoid unwelcome press attention. In comic books and films, disguises are often used by superheroes, and in science fiction they may be used by aliens. Dressing up in costumes is a Halloween tradition.

ChatGPT

  1. disguise

    A disguise is a way of hiding or altering one's physical appearance, behavior, voice, or other identifying features, typically in order to conceal one's identity or assume another's. It can also refer to an outward semblance that misrepresents the true nature or character of something or someone.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Disguiseverb

    to change the guise or appearance of; especially, to conceal by an unusual dress, or one intended to mislead or deceive

  2. Disguiseverb

    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

  3. Disguiseverb

    to affect or change by liquor; to intoxicate

  4. Disguisenoun

    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

  5. Disguisenoun

    artificial language or manner assumed for deception; false appearance; counterfeit semblance or show

  6. Disguisenoun

    change of manner by drink; intoxication

  7. Disguisenoun

    a masque or masquerade

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Disguise

    dis-gīz′, v.t. to change the guise or appearance of: to conceal by a dress intended to deceive, or by a counterfeit manner and appearance: to intoxicate (usually 'disguised in liquor')—n. a dress intended to conceal the wearer: a false appearance: change of behaviour in intoxication.—adv. Disguis′edly.—ns. Disguis′edness; Disguise′ment; Disguis′er; Disguis′ing. [O. Fr. desguiserdes, neg., guise, manner, guise.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. disguise

    Ships in all times have been permitted to assume disguise to impose upon enemies, and obtain from countries in their possession commodities of which they stand in need.

Matched Categories

How to pronounce disguise?

How to say disguise in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of disguise in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of disguise in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of disguise in a Sentence

  1. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan:

    So what if those detained are journalists. Don't journalists commit crimes? journalism is being used as a disguise.

  2. Charlie Mayhew:

    Whether we like it or not, our market is complicit in the trade in ivory, the big concern that we have at the moment is that there is evidence that unscrupulous traders and dealers are using the 1947 rule to disguise more modern ivory as being pre-1947, when it's not.

  3. Joyce Duco:

    If you are faced with an unpleasant person or situation that you can do nothing about, bless the situation. Bless the person and know and believe some good will come from it. . . . All of us have seen good come out of disaster . . . the 'blessing in disguise.' When you expect good to come from negativity, it will. What you think about, you bring about.

  4. Letitia Elizabeth Landon:

    I like a cat because it does not disguise its selfishness with any flattering hypocrisies. Its attachment is not to yourself, but to your house. Let it but have food, and a warm lair among the embers, and it heeds not at whose expense. Then it has the spirit to resent aggression. You shall beat your dog, and he will fawn upon you; but a cat never forgives : it has no tender mercies, and it torments before it destroys its prey.

  5. Shashank Khubchandani:

    Every blessing is a curse in disguise.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

disguise#10000#21091#100000

Translations for disguise

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • تمويهArabic
  • маскирам, дегизиране, прикривам, маскиранеBulgarian
  • převlekCzech
  • forklædningDanish
  • Tarnung, verstellen, VerkleidungGerman
  • pantalla, tapadera, disfraz, disfrazarSpanish
  • valepuku, naamiointi, valeasu, naamioida, peittää, salata, naamioituaFinnish
  • déguisement, déguiserFrench
  • הסווהHebrew
  • भेषHindi
  • álcáz, álruha, álcaHungarian
  • velizarIdo
  • 変装Japanese
  • преправа, прикрива, престорува, затскриваMacedonian
  • mom, verbergen, maskeren, vermomming, verhullenDutch
  • forkledningNorwegian
  • esconder, disfarce, disfarçarPortuguese
  • deghiza, masca, deghizare, mascareRomanian
  • скрывать, маскироваться, маскировка, замаскироваться, скрытьRussian
  • மறைக்கTamil
  • 伪装Chinese

Get even more translations for disguise »

Translation

Find a translation for the disguise definition in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

Please enter your email address:


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"disguise." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/disguise>.

Discuss these disguise definitions with the community:

0 Comments

    Are we missing a good definition for disguise? Don't keep it to yourself...

    Image or illustration of

    disguise

    Credit »

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Browse Definitions.net

    Quiz

    Are you a words master?

    »
    of all varieties or forms or kinds
    A omnifarious
    B aculeate
    C contiguous
    D extroversive

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for disguise: