dissembl

n. [ Dissemble + -ance. ] The act or art of dissembling; dissimulation. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dissembled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissembling ] [ 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. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dissemble all your griefs and discontents. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love,
But -- why did you kick me down stairs? J. P. Kemble. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To put on the semblance of; to make pretense of; to simulate; to feign. [ 1913 Webster ]

He soon dissembled a sleep. Tatler.

Syn. -- To conceal; disguise; cloak; cover; equivocate. See Conceal. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To conceal the real fact, motives, intention, or sentiments, under some pretense; to assume a false appearance; to act the hypocrite. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips. Prov. xxvi. 24. [ 1913 Webster ]

He [ an enemy ] dissembles when he assumes an air of friendship. C. J. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who dissembles; one who conceals his opinions or dispositions under a false appearance; a hypocrite. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is the weakest sort of politicians that are the greatest dissemblers. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Priests, princes, women, no dissemblers here. Pope.

Syn. -- Dissembler, Hypocrite. A person is called a dissembler with reference to his concealment of his real character, and a hypocrite with reference to his assumption of a false character. But hypocrite is the stronger word, being commonly used to characterize a person who is habitually insincere and false, especially one who makes professions of goodness when his aims are selfish and his life corrupt. [ 1913 Webster ]