masquerade English · revision 1391

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌmæskəˈɹeɪd/, /ˌmɑːskəˈɹeɪd/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|mascarade|t=masked party or dance]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|it|mascarata]], a variant of ''mascherata'' “masquerade”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''maschera'' “mask”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) Early English forms such as ''mascarado'' imitated Spanish or Italian endings.^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) It is related to [[mask]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A gathering of people wearing masks and costumes, as ''mascarado'' (1597).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates the noun to 1587.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From a masked ball the word extended to disguise in general (1660s)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and, figuratively, to a false outward show or pretence (1670s).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The verb, first “to disguise as at a masquerade” (1654),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) came by 1692 to mean to go about under a false character,^(OED 1989) the main modern sense.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1597 – a masked gathering, as ''mascarado''.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1654 – verb, to disguise.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1660s – disguise in general.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1674 – a false outward show.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1692 – to go about under a false character.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A party or ball at which masks and costumes are worn.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A costume or disguise worn at such a party.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A false outward show; a [[pretense]] or [[façade]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To pretend to be someone or something one is not, as in ''masquerade as a doctor''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To wear a mask or disguise; to take part in a masquerade.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[masquerader]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mask]]

+ * [[masque]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''mummery'' as a synonym.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}