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
