Nearby Words

dissemble

[dih-sem-buhl] Example Sentences Origin

dis·sem·ble

[dih-sem-buhl] verb, -bled, -bling.
verb (used with object)
1.
to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of: to dissemble one's incompetence in business.
2.
to put on the appearance of; feign: to dissemble innocence.
3.
Obsolete. to let pass unnoticed; ignore.
verb (used without object)
4.
to conceal one's true motives, thoughts, etc., by some pretense; speak or act hypocritically.

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Dissemble is a GRE word you need to know.
So is oscillate. Does it mean:
playfully jocular
to swing or move to and fro, as a pendulum does, or to vacillate between differing beliefs, opinions or conditions

Origin:
1490–1500; alteration (by association with obsolete semble to resemble) of Middle English dissimulen < Latin dissimulāre. See dis-1, simulate

dis·sem·bler, noun
dis·sem·bling·ly, adverb
un·dis·sem·bled, adjective
un·dis·sem·bling, adjective
un·dis·sem·bling·ly, adverb
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well-dis·sem·bled, adjective
COLLAPSE

disassemble, dissemble.


1. mask, hide, camouflage, dissimulate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To dissemble
Example Sentences
  • The need to keep it positive, even if it's not, puts stress on the spouse who must dissemble.
  • It never occurred to him to patronize students or to dissemble his thoughts.
  • If asked about your relationship or seen outside the campus, don't dissemble.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
dissemble (dɪˈsɛmbəl)
 
vb
1.  to conceal (one's real motives, emotions, etc) by pretence
2.  (tr) to pretend; simulate
3.  obsolete to ignore
 
[C15: from earlier dissimulen, from Latin dissimulāre; probably influenced by obsolete semble to resemble]
 
dis'semblance
 
n
 
dis'sembler
 
n
 
dis'sembling
 
n, —adj
 
dis'semblingly
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

dissemble
early 15c. (implied in dissemblable), apparently a variant of M.E. dissimule (infl. by M.Fr. dessembler or Eng. resemble), from O.Fr. dissimuler, from L. dissimulare (see dissimulation). Related: Dissembled; dissembler; dissembling.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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