Masquerade
Masquerade , noun
[French mascarade, from Sp. mascarada, or Italian mascherata. See Mask.]
1.
An assembly of persons wearing masks, and amusing themselves with dancing, conversation, or other diversions.
In courtly balls and midnight masquerades.
2.
A dramatic performance by actors in masks; a mask. See 1st Mask, 4. [Obsolete]
3.
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.
4.
A Spanish diversion on horseback.
Masquerade , intransitive verb
1.
To assemble in masks; to take part in a masquerade.
2.
To frolic or disport in disguise; 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 , transitive verb
To conceal with masks; to disguise.
To masquerade vice.