disguises

noun

Material (such as clothing, makeup, a wig) used to alter one’s visual appearance in order to hide one's identity or assume another.

The act or state of disguising, notably as a ploy.

(figuratively) The appearance of something on the outside which masks what’s beneath.

(archaic) A change of behaviour resulting from intoxication, drunkenness.

verb

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

(transitive) To avoid giving away or revealing (something secret); to hide by a false appearance.

(transitive, obsolete) To transform or disfigure, to change the appearance of in general.

(transitive, obsolete) To dress in newfangled or showy clothing, to deck out in new fashions.

(intransitive, obsolete) To dissemble, to talk or act falsely while concealing one’s thoughts.

(transitive, archaic) To affect or change by liquor; to intoxicate.

Roots

disdis- · Latin · apart, not wisa-guise · Germanic · manner, way

Synonyms & related words for disguises

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Words related to disguises

Explore words related to disguises — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include camouflage, disguising, mask, disguised, camouflager, cloaking, conceal, dissimulate. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does disguises come from?

The word disguises breaks down into 2 roots of Latin and Germanic origin: dis-, from Latin dis (“apart, not”); and -guise, from Germanic wisa (“manner, way”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.