dissemble
English
Etymology
From Latin dissimulare.
Pronunciation
Verb
dissemble (third-person singular simple present dissembles, present participle dissembling, simple past and past participle dissembled)
- (transitive) To disguise or conceal something; 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
- 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
Translations
to disguise or conceal something
to deliberately ignore something