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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dissemble, Dissimble, v. Also: dissembill, -bel, discemble; dessemble, desembill, -bel; dissymble, discimble; dissemle, -sem(m)il. [e.m.E. dissemble (1513), variant of Dissimill v.]

1. tr. To disguise. c1475 Wall. v. 144.
Wallace twa men amang the ost in went, Dissemblit weylle, that no man suld thaim ken c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 254.
I wes dissymblit [M. dissemlit] suttelly in a sanctis liknes

2. To put a false or deceptive appearance on; to cover with a pretence; to appear to ignore. (c1500-c1512 Dunb.) Tua Mar. W. 157 (M).
I sall say furth the suth, dissembland na wourde a1578 Pitsc. I. 34/21.
They thocht nothing better nor to dessemble all offences that was bygaine Ib. 78/25, etc.
They dissembelit thair ire with the Scottismen to ane mair convenient tyme 1596 Dalr. II. 132/19.
Gif ȝe think we may dissemle the mater

3. intr. To employ dissimulation. 1513 Doug. iv. vi. 21 (R).
He … bad thay suld … dissemmil, gif any askis quhy [etc.] a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 44.
I luif na thing bot pure simplicitie, And to dissembie man my tung asyle 1570 Leslie 135.
The King … bure uther contenance and discimblit with thame 1592 St. A. Kirk S. 728.
Sche falslie discemblit, and said that hir barne wes hir husbandis 1596 Dalr. II. 171/6.
Tha proclame a parleament … that tha appeir to na man to dissimble Ib. 465/30.
Dissembilling, quhen persecutione evin was maist ryfe