Costume

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒs.tjuːm/

Definitions

1. An ensemble of clothing created to embody a character or theme, often used in drama, celebrations, or cultural events
2. A collection of garments designed to reflect a specific identity or style, frequently employed in performances, holidays, or social functions
3. A set of attire assembled to represent a particular persona or concept, commonly worn during theatrical events, festivities, or traditional occasions

Etymology: Few words in English have travelled as far from their starting point as this one. Its ancestor, Latin "consuetudo," meant simply "custom" or "habit," the ordinary way things were done. Through Italian and French it came to mean a people's characteristic dress, and English borrowed it in that sense, so a costume once described what everyone wore, not what someone put on for a performance. The theatrical sense is the one that stuck, and it arrived later. Around 1802 the verb "costume" appeared in English, perhaps modelled on the French "costumer," meaning to dress someone in a particular outfit. The stage was where clothing most often had to signal who a person was supposed to be, so the sense of dress as a marker of role, rather than of custom, took hold.

Synonyms: outfit, disguise, garb, attire, getup

Antonyms: nudity