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).
Phrases and idioms:
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.
Derivatives:
veilless adj.
Etymology: ME f. AF veil(e), OF voil(e) f. L vela pl. of VELUM