cosplay
noun

- the activity of dressing up as a character from a film, book or video game

- the activity or practice of dressing up as a character from a work of fiction (such as a comic book, video game, or television show)

verb

- to dress as and pretend to be a character from a film, TV programme, comic book etc., as a hobby

Cambridge Dictionary / Merriam-Webster

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WORD ORIGIN

In 1984, a Japanese journalist named Nobuyuki Takahashi coined the term "cosplay" (コスプレ, kosupure) after attending the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) in Los Angeles.

He observed fans dressed up as their favourite characters and felt the existing Japanese term for masquerade ("masquerade" translates to "an aristocratic costume") wasn't fitting for the experience.

Inspired by the English words "costume" and "play," Takahashi combined them to create the Japanese portmanteau kosuchūmupurē, shortened to kosupure. The anglicised "cosplay” eventually found its way back to the West in the early 1990s, coinciding with the international popularity of anime and manga.

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WHY DRESS UP?

Wearing a costume isn't just about aesthetics; it's a psychological experience with surprising depth. Studies suggest that costumes allow us to become "social chameleons", temporarily altering our sense of self and influencing our behaviour.

While a superhero cape can engender a sense of empowerment and bravery, a villainous outfit could trigger a playful sense of mischief. This phenomenon, called “deindividualization”, explains how costumes can shift our moral compass and nudge us to act in ways like the character we are portraying. Costume allows us to experiment with different identities, to confront anxieties, and to be more creative.

Ultimately, the wearing of costumes reveals the deep connection between our external appearance and its profound impact on our internal feelings, our behaviour, and our social interactions — a strong reminder that dressing up unlocks a world of fascinating transformations.

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SYNONYMS

attire, apparel, clothes, COSPLAY, costume, disguise, duds, garb, garniture, getup, guise, habit, masquerade, outfit, raiment, regalia, semblance, suit, threads, toggery, trappings, uniform, vestment, vesture, wearables

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“Whereas children are natural COSPLAYERS, adults need excuses like Fasching or Carneval to dress up daringly.”

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