Question

dissemble \dih-SEM-bul\

Accepted Answer

verbTo disguise one's intentions, thoughts, motives, etc. by pretense.[We don't have anything to hide: "dissemble" is a synonym of "disguise," "cloak," and "mask." "Disguise" implies a change in appearance or behavior that misleads by presenting a different apparent identity. "Cloak" suggests a means of hiding a movement or an intention. "Mask" suggests some often obvious means of hiding or disguising something. "Dissemble" (from Latin "dissimulare," meaning "to hide or conceal") stresses the intent to deceive, especially about one's own thoughts or feelings, and often implies that the deception is something that would warrant censure if discovered. From Latin dis- (apart, away) + simulare (to simulate), from similis (like). Ultimately from the Indo-European root sem- (one) that is also the source of simultaneous, assemble, simple, Sanskrit sandhi (union), Russian samovar (a metal urn), and Greek hamadryad (a wood nymph).]"So when should you be honest and when should you dissemble? 'You don't want to trick them and tell them later about the onions in the soup because they'll learn not to trust you,' advises Chambliss." - Barbara Rowley; 7 Rules For a Peaceful Home; Parenting (San Francisco); Dec 2001/Jan 2002.

One's Dissemble Implies Suggests Means Hiding Latin Dih Sem Bul