Dissemble

Dissemble
Dissemble Dis*sem"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dissembled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Dissembling}.] [OF. dissembler to be dissimilar; pref. dis- (L. dis-) + F. sembler to seem, L. simulare to simulate; cf. L. dissimulare to dissemble. See {Simulate}, and cf. {Dissimulate}.] 1. To hide under a false semblance or seeming; to feign (something) not to be what it really is; to put an untrue appearance upon; to disguise; to mask. [1913 Webster]

Dissemble all your griefs and discontents. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love, But -- why did you kick me down stairs? --J. P. Kemble. [1913 Webster]

2. To put on the semblance of; to make pretense of; to simulate; to feign. [1913 Webster]

He soon dissembled a sleep. --Tatler.

Syn: To conceal; disguise; cloak; cover; equivocate. See {Conceal}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • dissemble — [di sem′bəl] vt. dissembled, dissembling [ME dissemblen < OFr dessembler < des , DIS + sembler < L simulare: see SIMULATE] 1. to conceal under a false appearance; disguise [to dissemble fear by smiling] 2. Obs. to pretend to be in a… …   English World dictionary

  • dissemble — means ‘to pretend; to disguise or conceal’. • One of nature s innocents. He couldn t dissemble if he tried P. O Donnell, 1971. It should not be used to mean ‘to take apart’ as if it were a shorter form of disassemble …   Modern English usage

  • Dissemble — Dis*sem ble, v. i. To conceal the real fact, motives, intention, or sentiments, under some pretense; to assume a false appearance; to act the hypocrite. [1913 Webster] He that hateth dissembleth with his lips. Prov. xxvi. 24. [1913 Webster] He… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dissemble — index assume (simulate), camouflage, cheat, cloak, deceive, delude, disguise, distort …   Law dictionary

  • dissemble — early 15c. (implied in dissemblable), apparently a variant of M.E. dissimule (influenced by M.Fr. dessembler or English resemble), late 14c., from O.Fr. dissimuler, from L. dissimulare (see DISSIMULATION (Cf. dissimulation)). Related: Dissembled; …   Etymology dictionary

  • dissemble — mask, cloak, *disguise, camouflage Analogous words: simulate, feign, counterfeit, sham, pretend, *assume, affect Antonyms: betray Contrasted words: *reveal, disclose, discover: *show, manifest, evidence, evince, demonstrate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • dissemble — [v] disguise, pretend affect, camouflage, cloak, conceal, counterfeit, cover, cover up, dissimulate, doublespeak*, double talk*, dress up, fake, falsify, feign, four flush*, hide, let on*, make like*, mask, pass, play possum*, pussyfoot*, put on… …   New thesaurus

  • dissemble — ► VERB ▪ hide or disguise one s true motives or feelings. DERIVATIVES dissembler noun. ORIGIN Latin dissimulare disguise, conceal …   English terms dictionary

  • dissemble — dissembler, n. dissemblingly, adv. /di sem beuhl/, v., dissembled, dissembling. v.t. 1. to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of: to dissemble one s incompetence in business. 2. to put on the appearance of; …   Universalium

  • dissemble — [[t]dɪse̱mb(ə)l[/t]] dissembles, dissembling, dissembled VERB When people dissemble, they hide their real intentions or emotions. [LITERARY] Henry was not slow to dissemble when it served his purposes. [Also V n] …   English dictionary

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