An artful or simulated semblance:
— Under the guise of friendship he betrayed them.

synonyms: pretence, pretense, pretext.

Roget 617: pretext, pretense, pretension, plea^†; allegation, advocation; ostensible motive, ostensible ground, ostensible reason, phony reason; excuse etc. (vindication) 937; subterfuge; color; gloss, guise, cover.    loop hole, starting hole; how to creep out of, salvo, come off; way of escape.    handle, peg to hang on, room locus standi [Lat.]; stalking-horse, cheval de bataille [Fr.], cue.    pretense etc. (untruth) 546; put off, dust thrown in the eyes; blind; moonshine; mere pretext, shallow pretext; lame excuse, lame apology; tub to a whale; false plea, sour grapes; makeshift, shift, white lie; special pleading etc. (sophistry) 477; soft sawder etc. (flattery) 933^†.    ... show more

Roget 692: conduct [actions of an individual agent]; behavior; deportment, comportment; carriage, maintien^†, demeanor, guise, bearing, manner, observance.    dealing, transaction etc. (action) 680; business etc. 625.    tactics, game, game plan, policy, polity; generalship, statesmanship, seamanship; strategy, strategics^†; plan etc. 626.    management; husbandry; housekeeping, housewifery; stewardship; menage; regime; economy, economics; political economy; government etc. (direction) 693.    execution, manipulation, treatment, campaign, career, life, course, walk, race, record.    course of conduct, line of conduct, line of action, line of proceeding; role; process, ways, practice, procedure, modus operandi, MO, method of operating; method &c.; path etc. 627.    ... show more

Roget 627: method, way, manner, wise, gait, form, mode, fashion, tone, guise; modus operandi, MO; procedure etc. (line of conduct) 692.    path, road, route, course; line of way, line of road; trajectory, orbit, track, beat, tack.    steps; stair, staircase; flight of stairs, ladder, stile; perron^†.    bridge, footbridge, viaduct, pontoon, steppingstone, plank, gangway; drawbridge; pass, ford, ferry, tunnel; pipe etc. 260.    door; gateway etc. (opening) 260; channel, passage, avenue, means of access, approach, adit^†; artery, lane, loan [Scot.], alley, aisle, lobby, corridor; back-door, back-stairs; secret passage; covert way; vennel^†.    roadway, pathway, stairway; express; thoroughfare; highway; turnpike, freeway, royal road, coach road; broad highway, King's highway, Queen's highway; beaten track, beaten path; horse road, bridle road, bridle track, bridle path; walk, trottoir^†, footpath, pavement, flags, sidewalk; crossroad, byroad, bypath, byway; cut; short cut etc. (mid-course) 628; carrefour^†; private road, occupation road; highways and byways; railroad, railway, tram road, tramway; towpath; causeway; canal etc. (conduit) 350; street etc. (abode) 189; speedway.    adv.. how; in what way, in what manner; by what mode; so, in this way, after this fashion.    one way or another, anyhow; somehow or other etc. (instrumentality) 631; by way of; via; in transitu [Lat.] etc. 270; on the high road to.    ... show more

Roget 448: appearance, phenomenon, sight, spectacle, show, premonstration^†, scene, species, view, coup d'oeil [Fr.]; lookout, outlook, prospect, vista, perspective, bird's-eye view, scenery, landscape, picture, tableau; display, exposure, mise en sc ne [Fr.]; rising of the curtain.    phantasm, phantom etc. (fallacy of vision) 443.    pageant, spectacle; peep-show, raree-show, gallanty-show; ombres chinoises [Sp.]; magic lantern, phantasmagoria, dissolving views; biograph^†, cinematograph, moving pictures; panorama, diorama, cosmorama^†, georama^†; coup de theatre, jeu de theatre [Fr.]; pageantry etc. (ostentation) 882; insignia etc. (indication) 550.    aspect, angle, phase, phasis^†, seeming; shape etc. (form) 240; guise, look, complexion, color, image, mien, air, cast, carriage, port, demeanor; presence, expression, first blush, face of the thing; point of view, light.    lineament feature trait lines; outline, outside; contour, face, countenance, physiognomy, visage, phiz.   , cast of countenance, profile, tournure^†, cut of one s jib, metoposcopy^†; outside etc. 220.    ... show more

Roget 7: state, condition, category, estate, lot, ease, trim, mood, pickle, plight, temper; aspect etc. (appearance) 448, dilemma, pass, predicament.    constitution, habitude, diathesis^†; frame, fabric etc. 329; stamp, set, fit, mold, mould.    mode, modality, schesis^†; form etc. (shape) 240.    tone, tenor, turn; trim, guise, fashion, light, complexion, style, character.    ... show more

Roget 225: clothing, investment; covering etc. 223; dress, raiment, drapery, costume, attire, guise, toilet, toilette, trim; habiliment; vesture, vestment; garment, garb, palliament^†, apparel, wardrobe, wearing apparel, clothes, things; underclothes.    array; tailoring, millinery; finery etc. (ornament) 847; full dress etc. (show) 882; garniture; theatrical properties.    outfit, equipment, trousseau; uniform, regimentals; continentals [U.S.]; canonicals etc. 999; livery, gear, harness, turn-out, accouterment, caparison, suit, rigging, trappings, traps, slops, togs, toggery^†; day wear, night wear, zoot suit; designer clothes; masquerade.    dishabille, morning dress, undress.    kimono; lungi^†; shooting-coat; mufti; rags, tatters, old clothes; mourning, weeds; duds; slippers.    robe, tunic, paletot^†, habit, gown, coat, frock, blouse, toga, smock frock, claw coat, hammer coat, Prince Albert coat^†, sack coat, tuxedo coat, frock coat, dress coat, tail coat.    cloak, pall, mantle, mantlet mantua^†, shawl, pelisse, wrapper; veil; cape, tippet, kirtle^†, plaid, muffler, comforter, haik^†, huke^†, chlamys^†, mantilla, tabard, housing, horse cloth, burnoose, burnous, roquelaure^†; houppelande [Fr.]; surcoat, overcoat, great coat; surtout [Fr.], spencer^†; mackintosh, waterproof, raincoat; ulster, P-coat, dreadnought, wraprascal^†, poncho, cardinal, pelerine^†; barbe^†, chudder^†, jubbah^†, oilskins, pajamas, pilot jacket, talma jacket^†, vest, jerkin, waistcoat, doublet, camisole, gabardine; farthingale, kilt, jupe^†, crinoline, bustle, panier, skirt, apron, pinafore; bloomer, bloomers; chaqueta^†, songtag [G.], tablier^†.    pants, trousers, trowsers^†; breeches, pantaloons, inexpressibles^†, overalls, smalls, small clothes; shintiyan^†; shorts, jockey shorts, boxer shorts; tights, drawers, panties, unmentionables; knickers, knickerbockers; philibeg^†, fillibeg^†; pants suit; culottes; jeans, blue jeans, dungarees, denims.    [brand names for jeans] Levis, Calvin Klein, Calvins, Bonjour, Gloria Vanderbilt.    headdress, headgear; chapeau [Fr.], crush hat, opera hat; kaffiyeh; sombrero, jam, tam-o-shanter, tarboosh^†, topi, sola topi [Lat.], pagri^†, puggaree^†; cap, hat, beaver hat, coonskin cap; castor, bonnet, tile, wideawake, billycock^†, wimple; nightcap, mobcap^†, skullcap; hood, coif; capote^†, calash; kerchief, snood, babushka; head, coiffure; crown etc. (circle) 247; chignon, pelt, wig, front, peruke, periwig, caftan, turban, fez, shako, csako^†, busby; kepi^†, forage cap, bearskin; baseball cap; fishing hat; helmet etc. 717; mask, domino.    body clothes; linen; hickory shirt [U.S.]; shirt, sark^†, smock, shift, chemise; night gown, negligee, dressing gown, night shirt; bedgown^†, sac de nuit [Fr.].    underclothes [underclothing], underpants, undershirt; slip [for women], brassiere, corset, stays, corsage, corset, corselet, bodice, girdle etc. (circle) 247; stomacher; petticoat, panties; under waistcoat; jock [for men], athletic supporter, jockstrap.    sweater, jersey; cardigan; turtleneck, pullover; sweater vest.    neckerchief, neckcloth^†; tie, ruff, collar, cravat, stock, handkerchief, scarf; bib, tucker; boa; cummerbund, rumal^†, rabat^†.    shoe, pump, boot, slipper, sandal, galoche^†, galoshes, patten, clog; sneakers, running shoes, hiking boots; high-low; Blucher boot, wellington boot, Hessian boot, jack boot, top boot; Balmoral^†; arctics, bootee, bootikin^†, brogan, chaparajos^†; chavar^†, chivarras^†, chivarros^†; gums [U.S.], larrigan [U.S.], rubbers, showshoe, stogy^†, veldtschoen [G.], legging, buskin, greave^†, galligaskin^†, gamache^†, gamashes^†, moccasin, gambado, gaiter, spatterdash^†, brogue, antigropelos^†; stocking, hose, gaskins^†, trunk hose, sock; hosiery.    glove, gauntlet, mitten, cuff, wristband, sleeve.    swaddling cloth, baby linen, layette; ice wool; taffeta.    pocket handkerchief, hanky^†, hankie.    clothier, tailor, milliner, costumier, sempstress^†, snip; dressmaker, habitmaker^†, breechesmaker^†, shoemaker; Crispin; friseur [Fr.]; cordwainer^†, cobbler, hosier^†, hatter; draper, linen draper, haberdasher, mercer.    [underpants for babies] diaper, nappy [Brit.]; disposable diaper, cloth diaper; [brand names for diapers], Luvs Huggies.    ... show more

Dutch: mom, voorkomen, uiterlijk, dekmantel, pretext, schijngrond, schijnreden, smoes, voorwendsel