Added 9 October 2026
dissemble
/dɪˈsɛmbəl/ verb
In Latin: dissimulō, oblīquō First recorded: 15th century Wiktionary
verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about dissemble at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Make believe with the intent to deceive.
He feigned that he was ill
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Hide under a false appearance.
He masked his disappointment
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Behave unnaturally or affectedly.
She's just acting
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)