different between semblance vs masquerade

English

Alternative forms

• semblaunce

Etymology

From Middle English semblaunce, from Old French semblance, from semblant, present participle of sembler.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?s?m.bl?ns/

Noun

semblance (countable and uncountable, plural semblances)

1. likeness, similarity; the quality of being similar.
2. the way something looks; appearance; form

Synonyms

• (likeness): veneer

Related terms

Translations

References

Further reading

• semblance in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• semblance in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

The noun is borrowed from Middle French mascarade, masquarade, masquerade (modern French mascarade (“masquerade, masque; farce”)), and its etymon Italian mascherata (“masquerade”), from maschera (“mask”) + -ata. Maschera is derived from Medieval Latin masca (“mask”): see further there. The English word is cognate with Late Latin masquarata, Portuguese mascarada, Spanish mascarada.

The verb is derived from the noun.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?mæsk???e?d/, /?mæsk???e?d/, /?m??s-/, /?m??s-/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?mæsk???e?d/, /?mæsk???e?d/
• Rhymes: -e?d
• Hyphenation: mas?que?rade

Noun

masquerade (plural masquerades) (also attributively)

1. An assembly or party of people wearing (usually elaborate or fanciful) masks and costumes, and amusing themselves with dancing, conversation, or other diversions.

   Synonym: (obsolete) masque
2. The act of wearing a mask or dressing up in a costume for, or as if for, a masquerade ball.
3. (figuratively) An act of living under false pretenses; a concealment of something by a false or unreal show; a disguise, a pretence; also, a pretentious display.
4. (figuratively) An assembly of varied, often fanciful, things.
5. (fandom slang) A cosplay event at which costumed attendees perform skits.
6. (obsolete) A dramatic performance by actors in masks; a mask or masque.
7. (obsolete, rare) A Spanish entertainment or military exercise in which squadrons of horses charge at each other, the riders fighting with bucklers and canes.

Alternative forms

• mascarade
• maskerade (archaic)

Derived terms

• masqueradish

Related terms

• mask
• masque
• masqueradingly

Translations

See also

• costume party

Verb

masquerade (third-person singular simple present masquerades, present participle masquerading, simple past and past participle masqueraded)

1. (intransitive) To take part in a masquerade; to assemble in masks and costumes; (loosely) to wear a disguise.
2. (intransitive, figuratively) To pass off as a different person or a person with qualities that one does not possess; also, to make a pretentious show of being what one is not.
3. (transitive, rare) To conceal (someone) with, or as if with, a mask; to disguise.

Derived terms

• masquerader
• masquerading (noun)

Translations

References

Further reading

• masquerade ball on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• masquerade (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia