dissemble

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To disguise or conceal something.

   Dissemble all your griefs and discontents.

2. 2
   verb

   To feign, dissimulate.

   And like a lion, slumb'ring in the way, / Or sleep-dissembling, while he waits his prey.

3. 3
   verb

   To falsely hide one's opinions or feelings.

   VVhile to his Arms the bluſhing Bride he took; / To ſeeming Sadneſs ſhe compoſ'd her Look; / As if by Force ſubjected to his VVill, / Tho' pleaſ'd, diſſembling, and a VVoman ſtill.

4. 4
   verb

   make believe with the intent to deceive

5. 5
   verb

   behave unnaturally or affectedly

6. 6
   verb

   hide under a false appearance

7. 7
   verb

   To deliberately ignore something; to pretend not to notice.

Etymology

First attested in the beginning of the 15th century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English dissemblen, dissimblen, dissemelen, borrowed from Old French dessambler, dissembler, disembler, itself borrowed from Latin dissimulō and modified after sembler, semblance, etc. Doublet of dissimulate, dissimilate, and dissimule. Displaced native Old English mīþan.