becloak

English

Etymology

From be- +‎ cloak.

Verb

becloak (third-person singular simple present becloaks, present participle becloaking, simple past and past participle becloaked)

1. (transitive, literal, figurative) To cover or surround, as with a cloak.
   • 1898, The Fortnightly Review, volume 69, page 393:

     Surely — was the cry — more Staff Officers are wanted who are trained to active service in the field, and not so many medal-hunting gentlemen skilled solely in the accomplishments of correcting visiting lists, becloaking ladies, and writing menu-cards.

   • 1916, George Turner Marsh, Ronald Temple, The Lords of Dawn, page 144:

     "You might so becloak yourself that no one would know whom you were," suggested Taro.

   • 2007, Jack Womack, Elvissey:

     " […] Therefore, if the converted won't reconvert, their master, or one so guised, should undertake to play our tune. A touch of truthache essentials, lest sharper drama too soon becloak our stage, and weary our watchers of our play."

Derived terms

• becloaked