dissemble

[ dih-sem-buhl ]
See synonyms for: dissembledissembleddissemblingdissembler on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),dis·sem·bled, dis·sem·bling.
  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; feign: to dissemble innocence.

  1. Obsolete. to let pass unnoticed; ignore.

verb (used without object),dis·sem·bled, dis·sem·bling.
  1. to conceal one's true motives, thoughts, etc., by some pretense; speak or act hypocritically.

Origin of dissemble

1
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

Other words for dissemble

Other words from dissemble

  • dis·sem·bler, noun
  • dis·sem·bling·ly, adverb
  • un·dis·sem·bled, adjective
  • un·dis·sem·bling, adjective
  • un·dis·sem·bling·ly, adverb
  • well-dis·sem·bled, adjective

Words that may be confused with dissemble

Words Nearby dissemble

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use dissemble in a sentence

  • It would not be the same house; we should have to dissemble; I saw myself speaking English the long day through.

    Margaret Ogilvy | J. M. Barrie
  • The Minister was too old, and too passionate by nature, to hide his feelings; he no longer cared to dissemble them.

    The conquest of Rome | Matilde Serao
  • It smote him with horror and anger; but he was much too manly to betray these actual sentiments, and continued to dissemble.

    Rhoda Fleming, Complete | George Meredith
  • It may even be politic to dissemble a little, and pretend we rather enjoy it than otherwise.

  • Lady Byron, having once conceived a notion of Augustas guilt, would not change her opinion, and was far too honest to dissemble.

    Byron | Richard Edgcumbe

British Dictionary definitions for dissemble

dissemble

/ (dɪˈsɛmbəl) /


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

  2. (tr) to pretend; simulate

  1. obsolete to ignore

Origin of dissemble

1
C15: from earlier dissimulen, from Latin dissimulāre; probably influenced by obsolete semble to resemble

Derived forms of dissemble

  • dissemblance, noun
  • dissembler, noun
  • dissembling, noun, adjective
  • dissemblingly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012