dissemble Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make believe with the intent to deceive
    affect; feign; pretend; sham.
    • He feigned that he was ill
    • He shammed a headache
  2. verb hide under a false appearance
    mask; cloak.
    • He masked his disappointment
  3. verb behave unnaturally or affectedly
    pretend; act.
    • She's just acting

WordNet

Dis*sem"ble transitive verb
Etymology
OF. dissembler to be dissimilar; pref. dis- (L. dis-) + F. sembler to seem, L. simulare to simulate; cf. L. dissimulare to dissemble. See Simulate, and cf. Dissimulate.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Dissembled; present participle & verbal noun Dissembling
Definitions
  1. 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.
    Dissemble all your griefs and discontents. Shak.
    Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love, But -- why did you kick me down stairs? J. P. Kemble.
  2. To put on the semblance of; to make pretense of; to simulate; to feign.
    He soon dissembled a sleep. Tatler.
    Syn. -- To conceal; disguise; cloak; cover; equivocate. See Conceal.
Dis*sem"ble intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To conceal the real fact, motives, tention, or sentiments, under some pretense; to assume a false appearance; to act the hypocrite.
    He that hateth dissembleth with his lips. Prov. xxvi. 24.
    He [an enemy] dissembles when he assumes an air of friendship. C. J. Smith.

Webster 1913