disguise

noun

1. 1

   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.

   hiding one's treacherous intentions under the guise of friendship

2. 2

   figurativeThe appearance of something on the outside which masks what’s beneath.

   old ideas in a new guise

3. 3

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

   Any disguise may expose soldiers to be deemed enemy spies.

4. 4

   archaicA change of behaviour resulting from intoxication, drunkenness.

verb

1. 1

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

   Spies often disguise themselves.

   Bunyan was forced to disguise himself as a wagoner.

   The official Central News agency said a Nationalist patrol boat Dec. 28 captured six Communist spies disguised as fishermen as they approached within 1,000 yards of the Paichuan in a motorized fishing craft. They were taken to Matsu for questioning.

2. 2

   obsoleteTo transform or disfigure, to change the appearance of in general.

3. 3

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

   He disguised his true intentions.

4. 4

   obsoleteTo dress in newfangled or showy clothing, to deck out in new fashions.

5. 5

   obsoleteTo dissemble, to talk or act falsely while concealing one’s thoughts.

6. 6

   archaicTo affect or change by liquor; to intoxicate.

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

   But my lord was angry, and being disguised with liquor too, he would not let him go till they played more; and play they did, and the luck still went the same way; […]

Forms

plural

disguises

past tense

disguised

past participle

disguised

present participle

disguising

third person singular

disguises