Revealed the true identity or nature of someone or something that was previously hidden or disguised.
From Old French 'masque' (mask) with the prefix 'un-' meaning to reverse an action. The word evolved from Italian 'maschera,' possibly from Arabic 'maskhara' (buffoon or mockery), reflecting the theatrical tradition of masks.
Masks have been used in theater, ritual, and deception for thousands of years—but the English verb 'unmask' specifically grew popular during the Renaissance when theatrical performances became widespread and the act of removing a mask became a metaphor for exposing truth.
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