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Masquerade is a noun that refers to an elaborate costume party or social gathering where participants wear disguises, masks, or other forms of concealment to conceal their true identities. It is also known as a masquerade ball or simply a masque. This term is derived from the French word "masque," meaning mask.
In its literal sense, masquerade involves individuals donning costumes that often represent historical figures, mythical beings, animals, or simply imaginative creations. Masks are frequently utilized to further obscure their faces and create an aura of mystery. People partake in masquerades for various purposes, such as entertainment, celebration, or artistic expression. Additionally, masquerades can be seen in cultural and traditional festivities worldwide, such as the Carnival of Venice in Italy or the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans.
Metaphorically, "masquerade" describes actions or behavior that involve disguise or pretense, often with an intention to deceive or mislead others. This deceptive element implies a deliberate act of adopting a false appearance or assuming a different persona in order to achieve a specific goal or manipulate others' perceptions. It can refer to situations where people hide their true intentions, feelings, or motives behind a facade, typically for personal gain, power, or social acceptance.
Overall, masquerade denotes both the festive gathering where disguises are worn and the act of pretending or concealing one's true identity or motives.
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• A nocturnal meeting of persons wearing masks, at which they amuse themselves with dancing, &c.; disguise; a Spanish equestrian diversion.
• To put into disguise; to go in disguise.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "masquerade" is derived from the Middle French word "masquerade", which is formed from the verb "masquer" meaning "to blacken the face" or "to disguise oneself". This verb is related to the Italian word "maschera" and the Spanish word "máscara", both meaning "mask". The origin of "masquer" can be traced back to the Arabic word "maskharah" or "maskharat", which refers to a type of dramatic performance involving disguises and masks. The word eventually entered English in the 16th century, primarily referring to a masked ball or a type of social gathering.
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