Guise and Disguise Are the Same Word
A guise is an outward appearance. Adding dis- to it produced disguise, meaning to change that appearance.
A guise is an external appearance, especially one that conceals something. *Disguise* is built straight from it: the prefix *dis-* means to change or undo, so to disguise is to alter someone's guise. The plain noun survives mainly in the phrase *under the guise of*, meaning under the pretence of. A related Scottish word, *guiser*, means someone in costume, and *guising* is the older Scottish practice behind trick-or-treating.
- An outward appearance. *In the guise of a friend.*
- Under the guise of — pretending to be. *Under the guise of research.*
- Disguise — to alter appearance. *A clever disguise.*
- Guising — going in costume, Scottish. *Halloween guising.*
- French — *guise*, manner. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | guise | In another guise. |
| Plural | guises | Various guises. |
| Verb | disguise | Disguise it. |
| Noun | disguise | A disguise. |
| Scots | guiser | A guiser. |
- He arrived in the guise of an inspector.Appearance.
- Cuts were made under the guise of reform.Pretence.
- Guising predates trick-or-treating.Scottish custom.
Words built with dis-
- Disguise — to change the guise
- Dismay — to deprive of power, from an old sense of may
- Disgruntled — from *gruntle*, to grumble
- Dishevelled — from French for the hair loosened
- Several have no surviving positive form, which is why disgruntled seems to lack a gruntled
Old French *guise*, manner or fashion, from a Germanic root related to *wise* in the sense of a way of doing things.
What does under the guise of mean?
Pretending to be something else. It suggests a false appearance covering the real purpose.
Is guise related to the -wise in likewise?
Yes. Both go back to a Germanic word meaning manner or way.