Pronunciation: d ə - ' sk ī z, dis- ' g ī z also diz-
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: dis · guised ; dis · guis · ing
Etymology: Middle English disgisen, from Anglo-French desguiser, deguiser, from des- dis- + guise guise
Date: 14th century
1 a : to change the customary dress or appearance of b : to furnish with a false appearance or an assumed identity
2 obsolete : DISFIGURE
3 : to obscure the existence or true state or character of : CONCEAL <unable to disguise his true feelings>
– dis · guised · ly \ - ' g ī z(- ə )d-l ē , - ' k ī z(- ə )d- \ adverb
– dis · guise · ment \ - ' g ī z-m ə nt, - ' k ī z- \ noun
– dis · guis · er noun
synonyms DISGUISE , CLOAK , MASK mean to alter the dress or appearance of so as to conceal the identity or true nature. DISGUISE implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity < disguised herself as a peasant>. CLOAK suggests a means of hiding a movement or an intention < cloaked their maneuvers in secrecy>. MASK suggests some often obvious means of hiding or disguising something <smiling to mask his discontent>.