də̇ˈsembəl verb
( dissembled ; dissembled ; dissembling -b(ə)liŋ ; dissembles )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Middle French dessembler to be unlike) of dissimule
transitive verb
1. : to hide under a false appearance : conceal with intent to deceive : feign
the propagandist … is a man so convinced of the truth of a certain proposition that he dissembles the facts that tell against it — Katharine F. Gerould
2. obsolete : overlook , ignore
3. archaic : to put on the appearance of : make pretense of : simulate
he soon dissembled a sleep — Tatler
intransitive verb
: to put on a false appearance : conceal facts, motives, intentions, or feelings under some pretense
we are all brought up to have a strict regard for the truth, but in adult life we learn to dissemble
Synonyms: see disguise