dissemble English · revision 1138

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈsɛmbəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''dissemblen'',^(AHD)^(Etymonline) an alteration of earlier ''dissimulen'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|frm|dissimuler]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|la|dissimulo|t=to disguise, conceal]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''dis-'' “completely” and ''simulāre'' “to pretend, imitate”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The form was altered under the influence of Old French ''dessembler'' “to be unlike”^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and of ''resemble''.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) It is related to [[simulate]] and [[dissimulate]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To assume a false appearance; to conceal one's real motives or feelings (before 1420 in Barnhart; early 15th century in Etymonline).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The transitive sense, to disguise the true nature of something, is recorded from 1513,^(OED 1989) and to feign or simulate from 1538.^(OED 1989) It also meant to pretend not to notice (about 1500),^(OED 1989) a sense Random House marks as obsolete.^(RHWU) Etymonline quotes the Century Dictionary's distinction: to ''dissemble'' is to pretend that something that is, is not, while to ''simulate'' is to pretend that something that is not, is.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1380 – ''dissimule'', to disguise.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1420 – ''dissemble''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1500 – to pretend not to notice.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1513 – to disguise one's character or feelings.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1538 – to feign.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To disguise or conceal something behind a false appearance.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To make a false show of; to [[feign]] or [[simulate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To hide one's real nature, motives or feelings; to act [[hypocrisy|alt=hypocritically]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' To pretend not to notice; to ignore.^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dissemblance]]

+ * [[dissembler]]

+ * [[dissemblingly]]

+ * [[undissembled]]

+ * [[undissembling]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dissimulate]]

+ * [[simulate]]

+ * [[resemble]]

+ * [[similar]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''mask'', ''hide'', ''camouflage'' and ''dissimulate'' as synonyms.^(RHWU) Wiktionary warns against confusing the word with ''disassemble'' “to take apart”.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}