dissemble

American  

[dih-sem-buhl] / dɪˈsɛm bəl /

verb (used with object)

dissembles, present (3rd person singular) dissembled, past participle, past dissembling present participle

1. to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of.

   to dissemble one's incompetence in business.

   Synonyms:

   dissimulate, disguise, camouflage, hide, mask

2. to put on the appearance of; feign.

   to dissemble innocence.

3. Obsolete. to let pass unnoticed; ignore.

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verb (used without object)

dissembles, present (3rd person singular) dissembled, past participle, past dissembling present participle

1. to conceal one's true motives, thoughts, etc., by some pretense; speak or act hypocritically.

dissemble British  

/ dɪˈsɛmbəl /

verb

1. to conceal (one's real motives, emotions, etc) by pretence

2. (tr) to pretend; simulate

3. obsolete to ignore

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• dissemblance
  noun
• dissemblingly
  adverb
• undissembled
  adjective
• dissembler
  noun
• dissembling
  noun
• undissemblingly
  adverb
• undissembling
  adjective
• well-dissembled
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have dissembled
  perfect
• has dissembled
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is dissembling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am dissembling
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been dissembling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are dissembling
  progressive
• have been dissembling
  perfect progressive
• dissembles
  singular 3rd person
• dissembling
  participle

Past

• had dissembled
  perfect
• had been dissembling
  perfect progressive
• was dissembling
  progressive singular
• were dissembling
  progressive plural
• dissembled
  simple
• dissembled
  participle

Future

• will dissemble
  simple
• will have dissembled
  perfect
• will be dissembling
  progressive
• will have been dissembling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of dissemble

First recorded in 1490–1500; late Middle English dissemile, dissimill, alteration (by association with obsolete semblen, sembel “to bear a resemblance, appear to be”) of Middle English dissimulen “to assume a false appearance, be insincere,” from Old French dessembler, dissembler “to be unlike,” from Latin dissimulāre “to conceal the identity of, disguise”; see origin at dis- ¹, resemble, simulate

Explanation

To dissemble is to try to deceive someone. Your little brother tried to dissemble when you asked if he ate the last doughnut, but the chocolate icing on his face gave him away. Dissemble is a little more complicated than a straight lie or denial. When you dissemble, you disguise your true intentions or feelings behind a false appearance. To dissemble is to pretend that you don't know something, to pretend that you think one way when you act another way. "He worked for six months at that company before they discovered he was dissembling: he had lied on his application about his credentials and education."

Example Sentences

Dorset and Riuers, take each others hand, Dissemble not your hatred, Sweare your loue    Riu.

From Richard III by Shakespeare, William

Dissemble your pain, And lengthen your chain, Nor seem her hauteur to regret, If again you shall sigh, She no more will deny, That yours is the rosy coquette.

From Fugitive Pieces by Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron

Madam, conceal your grief, and seem content; For, as it is, you must be rul'd per force: Dissemble, till convenient time may serve To think on this despite and Musgrave's love.

From A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 8 by Hazlitt, William Carew

No, Flavia! 'tis your love I fear; Love's surest darts, Those which so seldom fail him, are Headed with hearts; Their very shadows make us yield; Dissemble well, and win the field.

From A Little Book of Old Time Verse Old Fashioned Flowers by Various

And yet doe not; For, if you raile, too, men that know you can Dissemble, may beleeve you love me, and Tis not my ayme.

From A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 2 by Bullen, A. H. (Arthur Henry)