Con-cēal', v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. CONCEALED; p. pr. & vb. n. CONCEALING.] [Lat. concelare, from Lat. con and celare, to hide, allied to A-S. helan, (?). Eng. hele, hill, O. H. Ger. helan, N. H. Ger. hehlen, to conceal, Fr. celer, Pr. & Sp. celar, It. celare.]
Sense 1. To hide or withdraw from observation; to cover or keep from sight; as, a party of men concealed themselves behind a wall.
But where delays he now? Some great intent Conceals him. Milton.
Sense 2. To keep hidden; to forbear to disclose; to withhold from utterance or declaration.
Thou art sworn . . . As closely to conceal what we impart. Shak.
Synonyms—To hide; secrete; screen; cover; disguise; dissemble.—To CONCEAL, HIDE, DISGUISE, DISSEMBLE, SECRETE. To hide is the generic term, which embraces all the rest. To conceal is simply not to make known what we wish to keep secret. 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, or secrete stolen goods.
But 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.