Log in or Sign up

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. v. To disguise or conceal behind a false appearance. See Synonyms at disguise.
  2. v. To make a false show of; feign.
  3. v. To disguise or conceal one's real nature, motives, or feelings behind a false appearance.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. To make unlike; cause to look different; disguise.
  2. To give a false impression about; cause to seem different or non-existent; mask under a false pretense or deceptive manner.
  3. To put on the semblance of; simulate; pretend.
  4. To assume the appearance of; appear like; imitate.
  5. Synonyms Dissemble, Simulate, Dissimulate Disguise, cloak, cover. (See hide.) To dissemble is to pretend that a thing which is is not: as, to dissemble one's real sentiments. To simulate is to pretend that a thing which is not is: as, to simulate friendship. To dissimulate is to hide the reality or truth of something under a diverse or contrary appearance: as, to dissimulate one's poverty by ostentation. To disguise is to put under a false guise, to keep a thing from being recognized by giving it a false appearance: as, I cannot disguise from myself the fact. See dissembler and conceal.
  6. To give a false appearance; make a deceptive impression or presentation.
  7. To assume a false seeming; conceal the real fact, motives, intention, or sentiments under some pretense; mask the truth about one's self.

Wiktionary

  1. v. To disguise or conceal something; to feign.
  2. v. To deliberately ignore something; to pretend not to notice.
  3. v. To falsely hide one's opinions or feelings.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. v. To hide under a false semblance or seeming; to feign (something) not to be what it really is; to put an untrue appearance upon; to disguise; to mask.
  2. v. To put on the semblance of; to make pretense of; to simulate; to feign.
  3. v. To conceal the real fact, motives, intention, or sentiments, under some pretense; to assume a false appearance; to act the hypocrite.

WordNet 3.0

  1. v. behave unnaturally or affectedly
  2. v. make believe with the intent to deceive
  3. v. hide under a false appearance

Etymologies

  1. Middle English dissemblen, from Old French dessembler, to be different : des-, dis- + sembler, to appear, seem; see semblable.

Examples

Show 10 more examples...

Comments

No comments yet...

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

‘dissemble’ has been looked up 3798 times, loved by 3 people, added to 72 lists, and has a Scrabble score of 14.