undissembled

English

WOTD – 18 August 2024

Etymology

From un- (prefix meaning ‘not’) +‎ dissembled (“concealed, disguised; dissimulated, feigned”, adjective).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌʌndɪˈsɛmbl̩d/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌʌndəˈsɛmb(ə)ld/
• Hyphenation: un‧dis‧sem‧bl‧ed

Adjective

undissembled (comparative more undissembled, superlative most undissembled)

1. Not dissembled.
   1. Not concealed or disguised; evident, obvious.

      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:obvious

      Antonyms: see Thesaurus:opaque

      • 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 30, lines 400–402:

        She [Delilah] purpos'd to betray me, and (vvhich vvas vvorſe / Then undiſſembl'd hate) vvith vvhat contempt / She ſought to make me Traytor to my ſelf; […]

      • 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, “He Prevails upon Emilia to Accompany Him to a Masquerade, Makes a Treacherous Attempt upon Her Affection, and Meets with a Deserved Repulse”, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume III, London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC, page 24:

        Emilia, vvarmed by ſo many concurring incentives, in favour of the man ſhe loved, abated conſiderably of her vvonted reſerve, liſtened to his proteſtations vvith undiſſembled pleaſure, and in the confidence of her ſatisfaction, even ovvned him abſolute maſter of her affections.

      • 1778, [Frances Burney], “Letter VII. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars.”, in Evelina, or, A Young Lady’s Entrance into the World, volume III, London: […] T[homas] Lowndes, […], →OCLC, page 81:

        He paid me the moſt high-flovvn compliments, and frequently and forcibly ſeized my hand, though I repeatedly, and vvith undiſſembled anger, drevv it back.

      • 1814 July 7, [Walter Scott], “A Confidant”, in Waverley; or, ’Tis Sixty Years Since. […], volume II, Edinburgh:  […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, pages 176–177:

        The earnestness of his thanks called drops to the eyes of the worthy clergyman, who was doubly interested in the cause for which he had volunteered his services, by observing the genuine and undissembled feelings of his young friend.

      • 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Interior of a Heart”, in The Scarlet Letter, a Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC, page 175:

        The only truth, that continued to give Mr. Dimmesdale a real existence on this earth, was the anguish in his inmost soul, and the undissembled expression of it in his aspect.

   2. Not dissimulated or feigned; genuine, unfaked.

      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:genuine

      Antonyms: see Thesaurus:fake

      • 1651, Richard Baxter, chapter XXIX, in Plain Scripture Proof of Infants Church-membership and Baptism: […], London: […] Robert White; and are to be sold by Thomas Underhil, […], and Francis Tyton […], →OCLC, part I, page 97:

        There is a Reall undiſſembled Faith, vvhich yet is not juſtifying or ſaving. VVho can deny that?

      • 1722, Richard Steele, The Conscious Lovers. A Comedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson […], published 1723, →OCLC, Act II, scene i, page 37:

        I ſavv the reſpectful Dovvncaſt of his Eye, vvhen you catcht him gazing at you during the Muſick: He, I vvarrant, vvas ſurpriz'd, as if he had been taken ſtealing your VVatch. O! the undiſſembled Guilty Look!

      • 1794 September 2 (date written), Andrew Fuller, compiler, quoting Samuel Pearce, “His Parentage, Conversion, Call to the Ministry, and Settlement at Birmingham”, in Memoirs of the Late Rev. Samuel Pearce, A.M. with Extracts from Some of His Most Interesting Letters. […], revised edition, Philadelphia, Pa.: American Sunday School Union […], published 1829, →OCLC, page 20:

        I write to-night, lest my stay in Cornwall might make my delay appear tedious to the dear and deserving object of my most undissembled love. Oh my Sarah, had I as much proof of that I love Jesus Christ, as I have of my love to you, I should prize it more than rubies!

        From a letter written by Samuel Pearce to his wife Sarah Hopkins Pearce.

      • 1815, Samuel Stanhope Smith, “Evidences of the Christian Religion. [The Character of the Author of Our Religion: The Instruments He Employed to Promote It: The Beneficial Consequences which have Resulted from Its Publication and Reception in the World.]”, in A Comprehensive View of the Leading and Most Important Principles of Natural and Revealed Religion: […], New Brunswick, N.J.: Deare & Myer, →OCLC, page 198:

        [H]is [Jesus's] whole life, […] was full of grace and truth: that is, conspicuously distinguished by the most amiable condescension, and benignity of disposition and manners, and by the most undissembled and inviolable sincerity.

Derived terms

• undissembledness

Translations

not concealed or disguised — see evident,‎ obvious

not dissimulated or fake — see genuine