Dis*sem"bler (?), n.

One who dissembles; one who conceals his opinions or dispositions under a false appearance; a hypocrite.

It is the weakest sort of politicians that are the greatest dissemblers. Bacon.

Priests, princes, women, no dissemblers here. Pope.

Syn. -- Dissembler, Hypocrite. A person is called a dissembler with reference to his concealment of his real character, and a hypocrite with reference to his assumption of a false character. But hypocrite is the stronger word, being commonly used to characterize a person who is habitually insincere and false, especially one who makes professions of goodness when his aims are selfish and his life corrupt.

 

© Webster 1913.

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