Con*ceal" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concealed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Concealing.] [OF. conceler, L. concelare; con- + celareto hide; akin to AS. helan, G. hehlen, E. hele (to cover), helmet. See Hell, Helmet.] To hide or withdraw from observation; to cover; to cover or keep from sight; to prevent the discovery of; to withhold knowledge of.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing.
Prov. xxv. 2.
Declare ye among the nations, . . . publish and conceal not.
Jer. 1. 2.
He which finds him shall deserve our thanks, . . .
He that conceals him, death.
Shak.
Syn. -- To hide; secrete; screen; cover; disguise; dissemble; mask; veil; cloak; screen. -- To Conceal, Hide, Disguise, Dissemble, Secrete. To hide is the generic term, which embraces all the rest. To conceal is simply not make known what we wish to keep secret. In the Bible hide often has the specific meaning of conceal. See 1 Sam. iii. 17, 18. To disguise or dissemble is to conceal by assuming some false appearance. To secrete is to hide in some place of secrecy. A man may conceal facts, disguise his sentiments, dissemble his feelings, secrete stolen goods.
Bur double griefs afflict concealing hearts.
Spenser.
Both dissemble deeply their affections.
Shak.
We have in these words a primary sense, which reveals a future state, and a secondary sense, which hides and secretes it.
Warburton.
© Webster 1913. | 
