Masquerade


[mas-kuh-reyd] /ˌmæs kəˈreɪd/

noun
1.
a party, dance, or other festive gathering of persons wearing masks and other disguises, and often elegant, historical, or fantastic costumes.
2.
a costume or disguise worn at such a gathering.
3.
false outward show; façade; pretense:
a hypocrite’s masquerade of virtue.
4.
activity, existence, etc., under false pretenses:
a rich man’s masquerade as a beggar.
verb (used without object), masqueraded, masquerading.
5.
to go about under false pretenses or a false character; assume the character of; give oneself out to be:
to masquerade as a former Russian count.
6.
to disguise oneself.
7.
to take part in a masquerade.
/ˌmæskəˈreɪd/
noun
1.
a party or other gathering to which the guests wear masks and costumes
2.
the disguise worn at such a function
3.
a pretence or disguise
verb (intransitive)
4.
to participate in a masquerade; disguise oneself
5.
to dissemble
n.

1590s, “assembly of people wearing masks and disguises,” from French mascarade or Spanish mascarada “masked party or dance,” from Italian mascarata “a ball at which masks are worn,” variant of mascherata “masquerade,” from maschera (see mask (n.)). Figurative sense of “false outward show” is from 1670s.
v.

1650s, from masquerade (n.). Related: Masqueraded; masquerading.

Read Also:

  • Masquerader

    [mas-kuh-reyd] /ˌmæs kəˈreɪd/ noun 1. a party, dance, or other festive gathering of persons wearing masks and other disguises, and often elegant, historical, or fantastic costumes. 2. a costume or disguise worn at such a gathering. 3. false outward show; façade; pretense: a hypocrite’s masquerade of virtue. 4. activity, existence, etc., under false pretenses: a […]

  • Masrekah

    vineyard of noble vines, a place in Idumea, the native place of Samlah, one of the Edomitish kings (Gen. 36:36; 1 Chr. 1:47).

  • Mass

    [mas] /mæs/ noun 1. a body of coherent matter, usually of indefinite shape and often of considerable size: a mass of dough. 2. a collection of incoherent particles, parts, or objects regarded as forming one body: a mass of sand. Synonyms: assemblage, heap, congeries. 3. aggregate; whole (usually preceded by in the): People, in the […]

  • Massa

    [mas-uh] /ˈmæs ə/ noun 1. . [mahs-sah] /ˈmɑs sɑ/ noun 1. a city in W Italy, near the Ligurian Sea: important marble industry. /Italian ˈmassa/ noun 1. a town in W Italy, in NW Tuscany. Pop: 66 769 (2001) supposedly representing the colloquial black English pronunciation of master (n.), from 1774. massa mas·sa (mās’ə) n. […]

  • Massachuset

    [mas-uh-choo-sit] /ˌmæs əˈtʃu sɪt/ noun, plural Massachusetts (especially collectively) Massachusett for 1. 1. a member of an extinct tribe of North American Indians of eastern Massachusetts. 2. the extinct Algonquian language of the Massachusett and Wampanoag Indians. /ˌmæsəˈtʃuːsɪt/ noun 1. (pl) -sets, -set, -setts. a member of a North American Indian people formerly living around […]


Disclaimer: Masquerade definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.