Plural of guise; multiple disguises, outward appearances, or false pretenses.
Simple plural form of 'guise,' which derives from Old French 'guise' (manner, fashion, appearance). The word entered English in the Middle Ages and has been used to mean both legitimate costumes and deceptive appearances.
The phrase 'under the guise of' meaning to hide your true intentions is super common, but it originally just meant 'in the manner of' — showing how the word shifted from neutral 'appearance' to sneakier 'false appearance' over time.
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