The act of concealing, covering, or hiding something; in psychology, the process of one stimulus interfering with the perception of another.
English, from 'mask' via French 'masque' from Italian 'maschera', possibly from Arabic 'maskhara' meaning buffoon. The verb sense of concealing developed alongside the noun, maintaining the core concept of hiding one's true appearance.
Masking has taken on profound new meaning in recent years, from pandemic face coverings to neurodivergent individuals masking their authentic selves to fit social expectations. The word now carries both protective and potentially harmful connotations depending on context.
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