Dissemble

Definition: Dissemble

Dissemble

Verb

1. Make believe; "He feigned that he was ill"; "He shammed a headache".

2. Hide under a false appearance.

3. Behave unnaturally or affectedly; "She's just acting".

Date "dissemble" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1350. (references)

Domain	Definition
Satire	DISSEMBLE, v.i. To put a clean shirt upon the character. Let us dissemble. Adam. Source: Devil's Dictionary.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Synonyms: Dissemble

Synonyms: act (v), affect (v), cloak (v), feign (v), mask (v), pretend (v), sham (v). (additional references)

Context	Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).
Deception	Decoy, waylay, lure, beguile, delude, inveigle; entrap, intrap, ensnare; nick, springe; set a trap, lay a trap, lay a snare for; bait the hook, forelay, spread the toils, lime; trapan, trepan; kidnap; let in, hook in; nousle, nousel; blind a trail; enmesh, immesh; shanghai; catch, catch in a trap; sniggle, entangle, illaqueate, hocus, escamoter, practice on one's credulity; hum, humbug; gammon, stuff up, sell; play a trick upon one, play a practical joke upon one, put something over on one, put one over on; balk, trip up, throw a tub to a whale; fool to the top of one's bent, send on a fool's errand; make game, make a fool of, make an April fool of, make an ass of; trifle with, cajole, flatter; come over; (influence); gild the pill, make things pleasant, divert, put a good face upon; dissemble.
Falsehood	Dissemble, dissimulate; feign, assume, put on, pretend, make believe; play possum; play false, play a double game; coquet; act a part, play a part; affect; simulate, pass off for; counterfeit, sham, make a show of; malinger; say the grapes are sour.
Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

Crosswords: Dissemble

English words defined with "dissemble": Dissembled, Dissimule ♦ To act a part, To hide the face from. (references)

Specialty definitions using "dissemble": Dissemble. (references)

Thumbnail	Description & Credit
	Baron Bean. "Grimes approaches and I must dissemble". Credit: Library of Congress.
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Title	Author	Quote
King Richard III	Shakespeare, William	Think you my uncle did dissemble, grandam?
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

"Dissemble" is generally used as a lexical verb (infinitive) -- approximately 90.48% of the time. "Dissemble" is used about 21 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)

Parts of Speech	Percent	Usage per 100 Million Words	Rank in English
Lexical Verb (infinitive)	90.48%	19	80,337
Lexical Verb (base form)	9.52%	2	245,945
Total	100.00%	21	N/A

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.

Language		Translations for "dissemble"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.
Albanian		tregohem hipokrit, shtirem (affect, dissimulate, feign, impersonate, pretend), nuk e tregoj, injoroj (blink, ignore, pigeonhole, slight), fsheh (Bury, cache, cloak, conceal, cover, curtain, disguise, dissimulate, enshroud, Harbor, harbour, hide, hide away, obscure, plant, screen, secrete, sink, stash, veil, withhold, wrap up), bëj sikur nuk shoh. (various references)

Arabic		‏نافق (be a hypocrite, cant), ‏تظاهر (affect, assume, counterfeit, demonstrate, dissimulate, fake, feign, feint, make believe, march, pose, posture, pretence, pretend, put on, seem, sham, show, simulate, simulation), ‏أخفى المشاعر, ‏راءى (dissimulate). (various references)

Bulgarian		скривам (cache, conceal, enshroud, hide, hoard, hold back, obscure, plant, put back, screen, secrete, sink, stash, sweep under the carpet, tuck away, veil), лицемеря (cant, dissimulate, humbug), преструвам се (affect, dissimulate, fake, feign, personate, pretend, profess, put it on, put on an act, sham, simulate). (various references)

Chinese		矯 (rectify), 拆卸 (Demount, disassemble, Dissembled, Dissembling). (various references)

Czech		zakrývat (hide), přetvařovat se (dissimulate). (various references)

Dutch		veinzen (feign, pretend), huichelen. (various references)

Esperanto		hipokriti. (various references)

Faeroese		hykla. (various references)

Farsi		پنهان کردن (Cache, Cloak, Closet, Conceal, Cover, Disguise, Dissimulate, Eloign, Hide, Mask, Secrete, Shadow, Wrap), نادیده گرفتن (Disregard), وانمودکردن (Affect, Assume, Fake, Look, Pretend, Represent, Seem, Sham, Simulate), تلبیس کردن , تدلیس کردن , بهانه کردن . (various references)

Finnish		teeskennellä (affect, assume an air of, be affected, feign, make believe, pretend, simulate). (various references)

French		déguiser (disguise), agir en hypocrite, agir avec dissimulation. (various references)

Frisian		huchelje. (various references)

German		schmeicheln (adulate, Blandish, blare, bootlick, butter up, cajole, coax, flatter, soften up, to flatter), heucheln (be a hypocrite, feign, pretend, profess, sham, simulate). (various references)

Greek		υποκρύπτω (conceal, harbour), υποκρίνομαι (cant, counterfeit, dissimulate, feign, pretend, profess, simulate). (various references)

Hungarian		leplez (dissimulate, to cloak, to cover, to mask, to screen, to veil, to veneer, unfold), eltitkol (conceal, hold back, to conceal, to hold back, to keep from, to suppress, to wrap). (various references)

Indonesian		menyembunyikan (conceal, ensconce, hide, withhold). (various references)

Italian		dissimulare (disguise, dissimulate, feign, keep back, whitewash). (various references)

Manx		follaghey (bo-peep, cache, conceal, cover up, disguise, dissimulate, dissimulation, hide, hiding, muffle, occult, occultation, secrecy, secrete, veil). (various references)

Papiamen		fingi. (various references)

Pig Latin		issembleday

Portuguese		dissimular (conceal, disguise, dissimulation, mask, occultism, palliate), disfarçar (camouflage, cloak, color, colour, defeature, disguise, fudge, gilded, mantle, mask, varnish), questão (affair, broil, brush, business, business deal, case, difference, disagreement, earmark, fortunate, issue, litigious, matter, proposition, quarrel, query, question, scene, strife, wrangle), procedercomhipocrisia, fingir (assume, attitudinize, counterfeit, double bed, feign, feint, imitate, make believe, palter, play act, pose, pretend, put on, sham, simulate), esconder (bescreen, cache, conceal, dodge, ensconce, ensign, hide, hold back, hugger mugger, occult, pocket, screen, secrete, stash, suppress, tuck). (various references)

Romanian		dosi (coffin, conceal, hide), disimula (dissimulate), simula (act, affect, assume, feign, imitate, make, make believe, malinger, play off, pretend, sham, simulate), se preface (adulterate, be pretending, dissimulate, falsify, feign, kid, make believe, make pretence of, pose, pretend, show), ascunde (cloak, conceal, Cork, cover, curtain, cushion, disguise, ensconce, enwrap, hide, hood, hugger mugger, keep away, keep back, mask, put away, put by, screen, secrete, shroud, smooth, tuck, tuck away, veil, wrap). (various references)

Russian		скрывать (cloak, conceal, cover, disguise, hide, hold back, keep, keep back), маскировать (camouflage, disguise, mask, veil), игнорировать (cut ~ dead, defy, disregard, eliminate, ignore). (various references)

Serbo-Croatian		simulirati (assume the appearance, fake, feign, malinger, simulate), prikrivati. (various references)

Spanish		ocultar (blot out, blur out, Bury, cache, cloak, conceal, cover, fade, Harbor, harbour, hide, hide away, hold back, hold out, keep back, keep from, mask, occult, secrete, shroud, slur, slur over, tuck away), disimular (cloak, conceal, cover, dissimulate, Fox, hide, obscure, pretend, suppress). (various references)

Swedish		dölja (cloak, conceal, cover, disguise, dissimulate, hide, occult, plant, screen, shroud, veil, veils), skrymta (be a hypocrite), simulera (affect, dissimulate, fake, feign, malinger, pretend, sham, simulate, swing the lead), låtsas (affect, assume, dissimulate, feign, let on, pretend, pretends, sham), låtsa (affect, assume, counterfeit, feign), förställa sig (dissimulate). (various references)

Turkish		duygularını gizlemek (dissimulate), iki yüzlü davranmak (play fast and loose), gizlemek (blot out, bottle up, Bury, cache, camouflage, cloak, conceal, cover up, disguise, draw a veil over, enshroud, gloss over, gloze, gloze over, hide, hoodwink, hugger mugger, huggermugger, hush, hush up, keep back, keep from, keep in dark, keep in one's bosom, keep smth. under wraps, keep snug, mask, obscure, plant, pocket, screen, secrete, sheathe, shroud, sweep under the carpet, tuck away, veil), görmemezlikten gelmek (blink, blink at, close one's eyes to, connive, cut, cut smb. dead, give smb. the go-by, look through, overlook, overpass, pass off, pretend not to see, turn a blind eye, wink at), başka türlü göstermek (dissimulate). (various references)

Ukrainian		ігнорувати (balk, brush aside, defy, disregard, eliminate, ignore, neglect, overjump, overleap, overlook), лицемірити (be a hypocrite, cant), приховувати (becloud, blind, cache, cloak, conceal, disguise, dissimulate, hide, hoodwink, hugger mugger, obumbrate, palliate, put by, salt away, stash away, subduct, veil, vizor, wry). (various references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

Language	Period	Translations
Latin	500 BCE-Modern	dissimulabat, dissimulante, dissimularet, dissimulata, dissimulaverit, dissimulavi. (various references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Derivations
	Words beginning with "dissemble": dissembled, dissembler, dissemblers, dissembles. (additional references)
Misspellings
	"Dissemble" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: Dascombe, deassemble, dessemble, desserbil, disemble, dissembly, dissemple. (additional references)
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

# of Phoneme Matches	Pronunciation	Word(s) rhyming with "dissemble" (pronounced di'se"mbul)
6	-s e" m b u l	assemble, disassemble, reassemble.
5	-e" m b u l	resemble, tremble.
4	-m b u l	amble, bramble, Bumble, crumble, cymbal, ensemble, fumble, gamble, grumble, humble, jumble, mumble, nimble, preamble, ramble, rumble, scramble, shamble, stumble, symbol, thimble, tumble, umbel, unscramble, wamble.
3	-b u l	able, abominable, acceptable, accessible, accountable, achievable, actionable, adaptable, addressable, adjustable, admirable, admissible, adoptable, adorable, advisable, affable, affordable, agreeable, allowable, amenable, amendable, amiable, amicable, analyzable, answerable, appealable, applicable, appreciable, approachable, approvable, arable, arguable, attainable, attributable, audible, available, avoidable, babble, Babel, bankable, bauble, bearable, believable, bible, billable, biodegradable, breakable, bubble, buildable, burnable, cable, callable, cannibal, capable, changeable, chargeable, charitable, classifiable, cobble, coble, collapsible, collectible, Combinable, comfortable, commendable, communicable, comparable, compatible, compensable, comprehensible, conceivable, confirmable, considerable, constable, consumable, contemptible, contestable, controllable, convertible, copyrightable, corbel, countable, credible, creditable, crucible, culpable, curable, dabble, debatable, deductible, defensible, definable, degradable, delectable, deliverable, demonstrable, dependable, deplorable, deployable, depreciable, describable, desirable, despicable, detachable, detectable, determinable, developable, Dibble, digestible, disable, disagreeable, discernible, discountable, discoverable, dishonorable, dispensable, disposable, disreputable, distinguishable, divisible, doable, double, Drabble, dribble, drinkable, drivable, durable, eatable, edible, electable, eligible, Embraceable, employable, enable, enfeeble, enforceable, enjoyable, ennoble, enviable, equable, equitable, erasable, erodible, estimable, exchangeable, excitable, excludable, excusable, execrable, exercisable, expandable, expendable, explainable, exportable, extendable, extendible, fable, fallible, fashionable, fathomable, favorable, feasible, feeble, fissionable, fixable, flammable, flexible, foible, forcible, foreseeable, forfeitable, forgettable, forgivable, formidable, fungible, fusible, gable, Garble, global, gobble, Gribble, gullible, habitable, hardscrabble, harvestable, herbal, heritable, hobble, hon, honorable, horrible, hospitable, identifiable, ignoble, illegible, imaginable, imitable, immeasurable, immiscible, immobile, immovable, immutable, impassable, impeachable, impeccable, impenetrable, imperceptible, impermissible, implacable, implantable, implausible, imponderable, impossible, impracticable, impregnable, impressionable, improbable, inaccessible, inadmissible, inadvisable, inalienable, inapplicable, inaudible, incalculable, incapable, incomparable, incompatible, incomprehensible, incompressible, inconceivable, incontrovertible, incorrigible, incredible, incurable, indefatigable, indefensible, indefinable, indelible, indescribable, indestructible, indispensable, indisputable, indistinguishable, indivisible, indomitable, inedible, ineffable, ineligible, inequitable, inescapable, inevitable, inexcusable, inexhaustible, inexorable, inexplicable, infallible, infeasible, inflammable, inflatable, inflexible, inheritable, inhospitable, inimitable, injectable, innumerable, inoperable, insatiable, inscrutable, inseparable, insoluble, insufferable, insupportable, insurmountable, intangible, intelligible, interchangeable, interminable, interruptible, intertribal, intolerable, intractable, invaluable, investable, invincible, inviolable, invisible, invulnerable, irascible, irreconcilable, irrefutable, irremediable, irreparable, irreplaceable, irrepressible, irresistible, irresponsible, irreversible, irrevocable, irritable, issuable, justifiable, kibble, knowledgeable, label, lamentable, laudable, laughable, leasable, legible, liable, libel, likable, likeable, livable, lovable, malleable, manageable, mandible, maneuverable, marble, marketable, measurable, memorable, microwavable, miscible, miserable, mislabel, mobile, moldable, movable, navigable, negligible, negotiable, nibble, noble, noncallable, nonconvertible, nondeductible, nondurable, nonrefundable, nonrenewable, nontaxable, nontransferable, nonverbal, notable, noticeable, objectionable, observable, obtainable, operable, ostensible, palatable, palpable, parable, passable, patentable, payable, peaceable, pebble, perceptible, perishable, permeable, permissible, personable, persuadable, pitiable, plausible, pleasurable, pliable, portable, possible, potable, practicable, predictable, preferable, presentable, preventable, printable, probable, profitable, programmable, prosecutable, provable, psychobabble, punishable, questionable, quibble, quotable, rabble, reachable, readable, realizable, reasonable, rebel, receivable, rechargeable, recognizable, recordable, recoverable, recyclable, redeemable, redouble, redoubtable, reducible, refundable, regrettable, relabel, reliable, remarkable, removable, renewable, rentable, repairable, repayable, repeatable, replaceable, reportable, reprehensible, reputable, resealable, resettable, respectable, responsible, retractable, returnable, reusable, reversible, revocable, ridable, Roble, rouble, roundtable, rubble, Ruble, sable, salable, saleable, salvageable, Scrabble, scribble, seasonable, sensible, serviceable, Sibyl, sizable, sizeable, sociable, soluble, solvable, spendable, squabble, Stabile, stable, stubble, submersible, suggestible, suitable, supportable, survivable, susceptible, sustainable, syllable, table, talkable, tangible, taxable, teachable, tenable, terrible, timetable, tolerable, traceable, tractable, tradable, tradeable, trainable, transferable, transferrable, transmittable, transportable, treatable, treble, tribal, trouble, tubal, tunable, turntable, typeable, unable, unacceptable, unaccountable, unaffordable, unalienable, unalterable, unanswerable, unassailable, unattainable, unavailable, unavoidable, unbearable, unbeatable, unbelievable, unbuildable, uncollectible, uncomfortable, unconscionable, uncontrollable, undeniable, understandable, undesirable, undetectable, unelectable, unemployable, unenforceable, unenviable, unexplainable, unfashionable, unfathomable, unfavorable, unfeasible, unflappable, unforeseeable, unforgettable, unforgivable, ungovernable, unimaginable, unimpeachable, uninhabitable, uninsurable, unintelligible, unjustifiable, unknowable, unlivable, unmanageable, unmentionable, unmistakable, unobtainable, unpalatable, unpredictable, unprintable, unprofitable, unquestionable, unreachable, unreadable, unreasonable, unrecognizable, unreliable, unremarkable, unsalable, unserviceable, unshakable, unsinkable, unsolvable, unspeakable, unstable, unstoppable, unsuitable, unsupportable, unsustainable, untenable, unthinkable, untouchable, untraceable, unusable, unverifiable, unwinnable, unworkable, usable, valuable, variable, vegetable, venerable, verbal, verifiable, veritable, viable, visible, voluble, vulnerable, washable, wearable, winnable, wobble, workable.
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams
	Words within the letters "b-d-e-e-i-l-m-s-s"
	-1 letter: beslimed, beslimes, besmiled, besmiles.
	-2 letters: bedless, besides, beslime, besmile, blessed, blissed, delimes, demises, diesels, edibles, idlesse, seidels.
	-3 letters: bedels, bedims, belied, belies, beside, bields, bleeds, deisms, delime, demies, demise, diesel, dieses, dismes, edible, ediles, elemis, elides, embeds, emesis, imbeds, limbed, messed, misled, missed, missel, sedile, seidel, seised, sidles, slides, slimed, slimes, smiled, smiles.
	Words containing the letters "b-d-e-e-i-l-m-s-s"
	+1 letter: dissembled, dissembler, dissembles.
	+2 letters: disassemble, disembowels, dissemblers.
	+3 letters: disablements, disassembled, disassembles, misassembled.
	+4 letters: admirableness, disassemblies.
	+5 letters: formidableness.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.