Disguisings

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. The act or process of concealing one's identity or altering one's appearance for a specific purpose, such as avoiding detection or blending in
2. A means of changing outward appearance or behavior to mislead others about one's true self
3. The practice of transforming one’s looks or mannerisms in order to obscure reality or assume a different persona

Etymology: "Disguisings" is the plural of "disguising," the noun for the act of concealing one's appearance or manner. It is formed from the verb "disguise" and the suffix "-ing," which turns the verb into a noun naming the action itself. The plural ending then allows it to count separate acts or episodes of disguise. The base verb "disguise" entered English from Old French "desguiser," built from the prefix "des-," meaning removal or reversal, and "guise," meaning manner, style, or appearance. Its literal sense is therefore something like "to remove one's guise," which is the reverse of putting on a costume. Over time the word came to describe the outward covering itself as much as the act of removing one's identity.