dissemble
English
WOTD – 6 March 2007
Etymology
From Latin dissimulare.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [dɪˈsɛmbəɫ]
Audio (US) (file)
Verb
dissemble (third-person singular simple present dissembles, present participle dissembling, simple past and past participle dissembled)
- (transitive) To disguise or conceal something.
- Shakespeare
- Dissemble all your griefs and discontents.
- 1662, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, “The Order for Morning and Evening Prayer Daily to be Said and Used throughout the Year”, in The Book of Common-Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, […], London: Printed by John Bill, and Christopher Barker, […], OCLC 1053343847, column 2:
- Dearly beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us in ſundry places to acknowledge, and confeſs our manifold ſins and wickedneſs, and that we ſhould not diſſemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father, […]
- J. P. Kemble
- Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love.
- Shakespeare
- (transitive) To feign.
- 1681, John Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel
- And like a lion, slumb'ring in the way,
- Or sleep-dissembling, while he waits his prey.
- Tatler
- He soon dissembled a sleep.
- 1681, John Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel
- (transitive) To deliberately ignore something; to pretend not to notice.
- (intransitive) To falsely hide one's opinions or feelings.
- XVII century, John Dryden, Cymon And Iphigenia; from Boccace
- While to his arms the blushing bride he took,
- To seeming sadness she composed her look;
- As if by force subjected to his will,
- Though pleased, dissembling, and a woman still.
- XVII century, John Dryden, Cymon And Iphigenia; from Boccace
Usage notes
Do not confuse dissemble (hide information deceptively) with disassemble (take apart).
Translations
to disguise or conceal something
to feign
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to deliberately ignore something
to falsely hide one's opinions or feelings
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