Masquers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. To conceal one's true identity or feelings through deception or disguise; individuals participating in a masquerade as a form of entertainment; those assuming different roles or personas in social situations for anonymity or performance
2. Engaging in the act of hiding one's true self behind a façade or costume; persons who take part in festive gatherings characterized by masks and elaborate attire; people adopting alternative identities for enjoyment or social interaction
3. The practice of disguising oneself to obscure reality or intent; attendees at events that feature masquerades with costumes and masks for amusement; individuals adopting various personas for playful interaction or theatrical expression

Etymology: "Masquers" is the plural of "masquer," which is built from "masque" and the agent suffix "-er." The suffix turns a noun into a word for someone who does the thing it names, so a masquer is a person who takes part in a masque, the courtly entertainment of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Masques were lavish performances in which nobles and royalty danced and acted in disguise, often wearing elaborate costumes and masks, and the word for the performers naturally followed. Because masques were theatrical and disguised, the sense of "masquer" drifted outward. The same idea of wearing a costume to become someone else gradually came to describe anyone who hides their true self behind a façade or an alternative identity, whether for fun or for social play. The plural form simply groups those participants together, so a room full of masquers is a room full of people in disguise.

Synonyms: disguisers, impersonators, actors, performers, mimics