dissemble

Etymology

From Latin dissimulare.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [dɪˈsɛmbəɫ]

• Audio (US)

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Verb

dissemble (third-person singular simple present dissembles, present participle dissembling, simple past and past participle dissembled)

1. (transitive) To disguise or conceal something.
   • Shakespeare

     Dissemble all your griefs and discontents.

   • J. P. Kemble

     Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love.

2. (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.

3. (transitive) To deliberately ignore something; to pretend not to notice.
4. (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.