Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - disguise

 I. transitive verb  (~d; disguising)  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 ~ his true feelings  • ~dly adverb  • ~ment noun  • ~r noun Synonyms:  ~, cloak, mask mean to alter the dress or appearance of so as to conceal the identity or true nature. ~ implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity ~d 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.  II. noun  Date: 14th century  1. apparel assumed to conceal one's identity or counterfeit another's  2. the act of disguising  3.  a. form misrepresenting the true nature of something blessings in ~  b. an artificial manner ; pretense threw off all ~