definitions

dissemble

[ dih-sem-buhl ]
/ dɪˈsɛm bəl /
||
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verb (used with object), dis·sem·bled, dis·sem·bling.

to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of: to dissemble one's incompetence in business.
to put on the appearance of; feign: to dissemble innocence.
Obsolete. to let pass unnoticed; ignore.

verb (used without object), dis·sem·bled, dis·sem·bling.

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

RELATED WORDS

pussyfoot, feign, dissimulate, hide, conceal, cover, whitewash, mask, cloak, camouflage, shroud, signify, stonewall, simulate, fake, affect, counterfeit, pass, falsify, sham

Nearby words

disseize, disseizee, disseizin, disselboom, dissemblance, dissemble, disseminate, disseminated, disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, disseminated lipogranulomatosis

Origin of dissemble

1490–1500; alteration (by association with obsolete semble to resemble) of Middle English dissimulen < Latin dissimulāre. See dis-1, simulate

Related forms

Can be confused

disassemble dissemble
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dissemble

British Dictionary definitions for dissemble

dissemble

/ (dɪˈsɛmbəl) /

verb

to conceal (one's real motives, emotions, etc) by pretence
(tr) to pretend; simulate
obsolete to ignore

Derived Forms

dissemblance, noundissembler, noundissembling, noun, adjectivedissemblingly, adverb

Word Origin for dissemble

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