Added 6 October 2026
disguise
/dɪsˈɡaɪz/ noun
In Latin: dissimulō Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about disguise at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Material (such as clothing, makeup, a wig) used to alter one’s visual appearance in order to hide one's identity or assume another.
A cape and moustache completed his disguise.
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The appearance of something on the outside which masks what’s beneath.
old ideas in a new guise
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The act or state of disguising, notably as a ploy.
Any disguise may expose soldiers to be deemed enemy spies.
verb
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To change the appearance of (a person or thing) so as to hide, or to assume an identity.
Spies often disguise themselves.
- To transform or disfigure, to change the appearance of in general.
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To avoid giving away or revealing (something secret); to hide by a false appearance.
He disguised his true intentions.
Origin
From Middle English disgisen, disguisen, borrowed from Old French desguiser (modern French déguiser), itself derived from des- (“dis-”) (from Latin dis-) + guise (“guise”) (from a Germanic source).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)