Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A visor or mask.
- noun A disguise.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun An obsolete form of
vizor . - noun A vizard-mask; a vizor.
- noun One who wears a vizard-mask.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun Archaic A mask; a visor.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun archaic A
mask worn to disguise or protect the face. - noun A pretense
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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A vizard is a contrivance for concealment, whether in silk and pasteboard or in an inflexible visage -- whether in a woman who wants to disguise her features, or in a man who wants to hide his heart -- whether in a masquerader or an assassin.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - Volume 55, No. 343, May 1844 Various
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I marvel to see how men can be cajoled and call the vizard virtue.
The Scottish Chiefs 1875
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It would seem she had sustained importunity on the subject, for when she saw the Doctor, she put her hand to her face, as if she was afraid he would insist on pulling off the vizard.
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Some critics, whose good-will towards a favourite performer was stronger than their judgment, took occasion to remonstrate with the successful actor on the subject of the grotesque vizard.
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“Mask” and “Mascarade,” for persona, larva or vizard, also derive, I have noticed, from an Arabic word — Maskharah.
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Her head was covered with a montero cap, and, as was frequently the custom at the period, she wore on her face a kind of black silk vizard, which effectually concealed her features.
Anne of Geierstein 2008
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It is not easy to trace how he became possessed of his black vizard, which was anciently made in the resemblance of the face of a cat; but it seems that the mask was essential to the performance of the character, as will appear from the following theatrical anecdote: —
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I defy the Old Enemy to unmask me when I choose to keep my vizard on.
The Abbot 2008
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He cursed his advisers, and resumed his grotesque vizard, but, it is said, without ever being able to regain the careless and successful levity which the consciousness of the disguise had formerly bestowed.
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“I am afraid, sir,” said the young lady, and her smile was scarce concealed by her vizard, “I shall have little use for such careful preparation.”
whichbe commented on the word vizard
Disguise.
May 11, 2008
qms commented on the word vizard
The Nancy mask known as “The Wizard”
Is DC’s most popular vizard.
It easily trumps
The choice of the chumps,
The orange one sold as “The Lizard”.
February 2, 2019