dissemble








verb (used with object), dis·sem·bled, dis·sem·bling.

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

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

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

verb

  1. to conceal (one’s real motives, emotions, etc) by pretence
  2. (tr) to pretend; simulate
  3. obsolete to ignore
v.

early 15c. (implied in dissemblable), apparently a variant of Middle English dissimule (influenced by Middle French dessembler or English resemble), late 14c., from Old French dissimuler, from Latin dissimulare (see dissimulation). Related: Dissembled; dissembling.

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