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conceal

[kuh n-seel]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to hide; withdraw or remove from observation; cover or keep from sight: He concealed the gun under his coat.
  2. to keep secret; to prevent or avoid disclosing or divulging: to conceal one's identity by using a false name.
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Origin of conceal

1275–1325; Middle English conselen, concelen < Anglo-French conceler < Latin concēlāre, equivalent to con- con- + cēlāre to hide (akin to hull1, Greek koleón scabbard (see Coleoptera); cf. occult)
Related formscon·ceal·a·ble, adjectivecon·ceal·a·bil·i·ty, nouncon·ceal·ed·ly, adverbcon·ceal·ed·ness, nouncon·ceal·er, nounhalf-con·cealed, adjectivehalf-con·ceal·ing, adjectivepre·con·ceal, verb (used with object)re·con·ceal, verb (used with object)sem·i·con·cealed, adjectivesub·con·cealed, adjectiveun·con·cealed, adjectiveun·con·ceal·ing, adjectiveun·con·ceal·ing·ly, adverbwell-con·cealed, adjective

Synonyms

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1. See hide1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

harborcoverstowmaskcloakstashlurkcamouflagewrapobscureburyskulkplantmasqueradescreencachesneakenshroudcouchshelter

Examples from the Web for conceal

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • This is too well-known a truth for me to endeavor to conceal it, especially from you.

    Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)

    Samuel Richardson

  • About daylight I reached a forest in which I could conceal myself during the day.

    Biography of a Slave

    Charles Thompson

  • He dashed the glass from him, and burst into tears which he did not even try to conceal.

    Weighed and Wanting

    George MacDonald

  • Burke winced, but he made shift to conceal his realization of the truth she had stated to him.

    Within the Law

    Marvin Dana

  • She made no attempt to conceal them; rather, she pointed to them with pride.

    K

    Mary Roberts Rinehart

British Dictionary definitions for conceal

conceal

verb (tr)
  1. to keep from discovery; hide
  2. to keep secret
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Derived Formsconcealable, adjectiveconcealer, nounconcealment, noun

Word Origin

C14: from Old French conceler, from Latin concēlāre, from com- (intensive) + cēlāre to hide
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

Word Origin and History for conceal

v.

early 14c., concelen, from Old French conceler "to hide, conceal, dissimulate," from Latin concelare "to hide," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + celare "to hide," from PIE root *kel- "to hide" (see cell). Replaced Old English deagan. Related: Concealed; concealing.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper