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masquerade
masquerade definition
mas·quer·ade (mas′kə rād′)
noun
- a ball or party at which masks and fancy costumes or disguises are worn
- a costume for such a ball or party
- a disguise, false show, or pretense
- a living or acting under false pretenses
Etymology: altered (by assoc. with masque) < Fr mascarade < It mascarata, dial. var. of mascherata (< maschera): see mask
intransitive verb masqueraded -·ad′ed, masquerading -·ad′·ing
- to take part in a masquerade
- to live or act under false pretenses
Related Forms:
- masquerader mas′·quer·ad′er noun
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