n. & v.
n. 1 a piece of usu. more or less transparent fabric attached to a woman's hat etc., esp. to conceal the face or protect against the sun, dust, etc. 2 a piece of linen etc. as part of a nun's head-dress, resting on the head and shoulders. 3 a curtain, esp. that separating the sanctuary in the Jewish Temple. 4 a disguise; a pretext; a thing that conceals (under the veil of friendship; a veil of mist). 5 Photog. slight fogging. 6 huskiness of the voice. 7 = VELUM.
v.tr. 1 cover with a veil. 2 (esp. as veiled adj.) partly conceal (veiled threats). beyond the veil in the unknown state of life after death. draw a veil over avoid discussing or calling attention to. take the veil become a nun. veilless adj.
[ ME f. AF veil(e), OF voil(e) f. L vela pl. of VELUM ]