/dissemble-meaning

/dissemble-meaning-synonyms

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: dɪsɛmb(ə)l.

-) Etymology: it is believed to be the later form of the obsolete verb dissimule (dissimulate), and to be influenced by RESEMBLE. Walter Skeat analyzed it into Old French dis- (apart) + sembler (to seem, appear), from Latin simulare (to assume the appearance of, simulate).

-) Preterite tense: dissembled. Preterite participle: dissembled.

-) Present participle: dissembling.

-) Transitively: 1. Obsolete acceptation: to alter the semblance of (something corporeal; as one’s form).

-) 2. To alter the semblance of (something immaterial; as one's personality, mood, situation, action, design, feeling, etc.) so as to conceal, or deceive as to, its real quality or state; to disguise by a feigned or false semblance.

-) Synonyms for “dissemble”: to conceal; disguise.

-) Translation: dissimuler, in French; disimular, in Spanish; dissimulare, in Italian.

The satisfaction her husband expressed in the departure of Jenny, appeared now to be only dissembled.

Fielding… The History… 1749

Till he had secured the passage of the Po on the bridge of Pavia, the grandson of Clovis dissembled his intentions, which he at length declared, by assaulting, almost at the same instant, the hostile camps of the Romans and Goths.

E. Gibbon… The Roman Empire… 1782

The old gentlewoman received me very kindly, and Miss affected a frankness and gaiety, which, however, I could easily perceive were forced and dissembled.

T. Smollett… The Adventures of Roderick… 1820

Cortes dissembled the satisfaction with which he listened to these overtures…

W. Prescott… The conquest of Mexico… 1843

But, without dissembling the necessary imperfections of the a priori method when applied to such a subject, neither ought we, on the other hand, to exaggerate them.

J. Mill… A System of Logic… 1843

He had retained his employment a secret: she had dissembled hers..

G. Reynolds… The mysteries… 1844    

Pizarro well understood that the Inca’s object in this diplomatic visit was less to do him courtesy, than to inform himself of the strength and condition of the invaders. But he was well pleased with the embassy, and dissembled his consciousness of its real purpose.

W. Prescott… Conquest of Peru… 1847

“ I can do so, certainly," she replied, dissembling her readiness to grant his request.

Hannah Jones… Trials of love… 1849

The Roman ambassadors, who were but little used to hear the language of a conqueror, for a while dissembled their resentment at this haughty reply... 

O. Goldsmith… History of Rome… 1851

… he sought no longer to dissemble his concern, walking to and fro in the room with a contorted face…

R. Stevenson… The Master… 1889

Amalrus shrugged his shoulders, smiled whimsically and reached for a goblet, dissembling his fear and fury.

R. Howard… The Scarlet Citadel… 1933

She stood before them straight and lithe, in a fear so well dissembled that she seemed almost bold.

R. Sabatini… Columbus… 1941

-) 3. Rare: to make semblance of not noticing (something); to neglect, ignore.

… he ought not to dissemble the difficulty of adopting such a theory as may reconcile the interest…

E. Gibbon… The Roman Empire… 1782

… where it was dangerous to punish, it might be prudent to dissemble, the sallies of their native fierceness.

E. Gibbon… The Roman Empire… 1782

-) With clause:

I do not dissemble that I was anxious to obtain it; I do not dissemble that my vows and supplications for the prosperity of the country were unremitted.

W. Landor… Pericles… 1836

We cannot dissemble to ourselves, Monsieur, that the French expedition has been planned and executed under the inspiration of this thought.

M. Ossoli… At Home and Abroad… 1869

-) 4. Obsolete acceptation: to assume falsely the semblance of (anything); feign, simulate; as, to dissemble love.

-) Intransitively: 1. To use dissimulation; to behave dissemblingly; to keep secret one’s opinion, intention, mood, etc., while expressing a false one; to conceal one’s purpose under some pretense.

-) Synonym: to feign.

They had little to subsist on but the flesh of alligators. When they reached the Quinipissas, who had proved hostile on their way down, they resolved to risk an interview with them, in the hope of obtaining food. The treacherous savages dissembled, brought them corn, and on the following night made an attack upon them...

F. Parkman… La Salle… 1869

-) With the preposition “with” + noun of the person who is the object of the dissimulation:

Avila, who was of a lofty disposition, remonstrated in an imperious manner, and Cortes was forced to dissemble with him at the time, knowing him to be a brave man.

R. Kerr… Voyages and Travels… 1824

Acosta caused immediate investigations to be made in regard to such as had participated in this plot, and ordered several persons to be hanged who were proved to have known its circumstances: some others in the same predicament he detained prisoners, and dissembled with the rest who had been implicated, pretending not to know that they had participated in the conspiracy.

R. Kerr… Voyages and Travels… 1824

I can no longer dissemble with you; indeed, I perceive, it would be useless.

E. Bulwer-Lytton… Pelham… 1828

-) 2. Rare: to make semblance of not noticing something censurable.

-) With the preposition “with”: I dissembled with her mistakes.

-) Words derived from the verb “dissemble”: dissembler, dissembling, dissemblingly, undissembled, undissembledness, undissembling, undissemblingly.

-) English words derived from Latin simulare: see “simulation”.