Dictionary

dissemble en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /dɪˈsɛmbəl/
• (US) audio
• [dɪˈsɛmbɫ̩]

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.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To disguise or conceal something.
   • Dearly beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us in ſundry places to acknowledge, and confeſs our manifold ſins and wickedneſs, and that we ſhould not diſſemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father, […] 1662, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, “The Order for Morning and Evening Prayer Daily to be Said and Used throughout the Year”, in The Book of Common-Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, […], London: […] John Bill, and Christopher Barker, […], →OCLC, column 2:
   • Dissemble all your griefs and discontents. c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 35:
   • Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love. 1788, John Philip Kemble, The Panel:
2. (transitive) To feign, dissimulate.
   • He soon dissembled a sleep. 1710 May 26 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele et al.], “Monday, May 16, 1710”, in The Tatler, number 172; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume III, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC:
   • And like a Lyon, Slumbring in the vvay, / Or Sleep-diſſembling, vvhile he vvaits his Prey, […] 1681, [John Dryden], Absalom and Achitophel. A Poem, London: […] J[acob] T[onson] and are to be sold by W. Davis […], →OCLC, page 14:
3. (transitive) To deliberately ignore something; to pretend not to notice.
4. (intransitive) 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. 1700, [John] Dryden, “Cymon and Iphigenia, from Boccace”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 552:
   • […] She transferr'd the curs'd Advice, / That Monarchs ſhould their inward Soul diſguise, / Diſſemble, and command; be falſe, and wiſe; / By ignominous Arts for ſervile Ends / Should compliment their Foes, and ſhun their Friends. 1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Solomon on the Vanity of the World. A Poem in Three Books.”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC, book II (Pleasure), page 457:

Forms

Deriveds

undissemble · dissemblingly · dissembler · undissembling · undissembled

Synonyms

pass by · misregard · set at nought · disregard · misheed · put aside · shrug off · despise · pass · unmind · tune out · take no notice of · neglect · dissemble · pay no heed · disregard · slough · brush off · ignore · discount · take no notice of · unheed

Translations (51)

mi whakakikoika (to feign) · bg прикривам (to disguise or conceal something) · pl udawać (to feign) · ru скрыва́ть (to disguise or conceal something) · pl ukrywać (to disguise or conceal something) · de vortäuschen (to feign) · de heucheln (to falsely hide one's opinions or feelings) · ru игнори́ровать (to deliberately ignore something) · pl udać (to feign) · de verbergen (to deliberately ignore something) · ru лицемерить (to falsely hide one's opinions or feelings) · bg лицемеря (to falsely hide one's opinions or feelings) · de verhehlen (to deliberately ignore something) · la dissimulō (to disguise or conceal something) · mi whakangongo (to deliberately ignore something) · mi pī (to deliberately ignore something) · es disimular (to falsely hide one's opinions or feelings) · mi whakangehengehe (to feign) · ru притворя́ться (to feign) · pl maskować (to falsely hide one's opinions or feelings) · pl ignorować (to deliberately ignore something) · fr dissimuler (to disguise or conceal something) · mi whakangaio (to feign) · mi whakatuturi (to deliberately ignore something) · mi whakaturi (to deliberately ignore something) · ru притворя́ться (to falsely hide one's opinions or feelings) · enm dissimulen (to disguise or conceal something) · de verbergen (to disguise or conceal something) · sv dölja (to disguise or conceal something) · pl skrywać (to disguise or conceal something) · pl zignorować (to deliberately ignore something) · pl ukrywać (to falsely hide one's opinions or feelings) · sv låtsas (to feign) · pl zataić (to disguise or conceal something) · la oblīquō (to disguise or conceal something) · pl ukryć (to disguise or conceal something) · sv förställa sig (to falsely hide one's opinions or feelings) · bg преструвам се (to feign) · enm dissimulen (to deliberately ignore something) · es disimular (to disguise or conceal something) · pl skryć (to disguise or conceal something) · mi whātuturi (to deliberately ignore something) · sv låtsas som att inte (to deliberately ignore something) · bg правя се че не виждам (to deliberately ignore something) · enm dissimulen (to falsely hide one's opinions or feelings) · pl ukryć (to falsely hide one's opinions or feelings) · sv ignorera (to deliberately ignore something) · pl zatajać (to disguise or conceal something) · de sich verstellen (to falsely hide one's opinions or feelings) · pl taić (to disguise or conceal something) · de sich nichts anmerken lassen (to falsely hide one's opinions or feelings)

wikipedia: Middle English