Etymology : Middle French, from Old Italian dialect mascarada, from Old Italian maschera mask
Pronunciation : "mas-k&-'rAd
Function : noun
Date : 1587
1. masked ball; assumption of a disguise; impersonation; charade. assume a disguise; attend a masked ball, attend a costume party; impersonate; pose. masquerade\mas`quer*ade"\ , n. [f. mascarade, fr. sp. mascarada, or it. mascherata. see:
mask.].
2. an assembly of persons wearing masks, and amusing themselves with dancing, conversation, or other diversions. in courtly balls and midnight masquerades.
3. a dramatic performance by actors in masks; a mask. see:
1st mask,.
4. [obs.].
5. acting or living under false pretenses; concealment of something by a false or unreal show; pretentious show; disguise. that masquerade of misrepresentation which invariably accompanied the political eloquence of rome.
6. a spanish diversion on horseback.masquerade \mas`quer*ade"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. masqueraded; p. pr. & vb. n. masquerading.].
7. to assemble in masks; to take part in a masquerade.
8. to frolic or disport in disquise; to make a pretentious show of being what one is not. a freak took an ass in the head, and he goes into the woods, masquerading up and down in a lion's skin.masquerade \mas`quer*ade"\, v. t. to conceal with masks; to disguise. "to masquerade vice." --killingbeck.
9. An assembly of persons wearing masks, and amusing themselves with dancing, conversation, or other diversions.
10. A dramatic performance by actors in masks; a mask.
11. See 1st Mask, 4.
12. Acting or living under false pretenses; concealment of something by a false or unreal show; pretentious show; disguise.
13. A Spanish diversion on horseback.
14. To assemble in masks; to take part in a masquerade.
15. To frolic or disport in disquise; to make a pretentious show of being what one is not.
16. To conceal with masks; to disguise. making a false outward show; "a beggar's masquerade of wealth" a party of guests wearing costumes and masks pretend to be someone or something that you are not; "he is masquerading as the expert on the Internet"; "This silly novel is masquerading as a serious historical treaty".
17. 1. To masquerade as someone or something means to pretend to be that person or thing, particularly in order to deceive other people. He masqueraded as a doctor and fooled everyone.
18. A masquerade is an attempt to deceive people about the true nature or identity of something. He told a news conference that the elections would be a masquerade. = sham.
19. A masquerade is an event such as a party or dance where people dress up in disguise and wear masks. a masquerade ball. to pretend to be something or someone different masquerade as.