Veil

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Veil, n. [OE. veile, OF. veile, F. voile, L. velum a sail, covering, curtain, veil, probably fr. vehere to bear, carry, and thus originally, that which bears the ship on. See Vehicle, and cf. Reveal.].

•  Something hung up, or spread out, to intercept the view, and hide an object; a cover; a curtain; esp., a screen, usually of gauze, crape, or similar diaphnous material, to hide or protect the face.  [1913 Webster]

  "The veil of the temple was rent in twain."  [1913 Webster]

  "She, as a veil down to the slender waist,
  Her unadornéd golden tresses wore."  [1913 Webster]
•  A cover; a disguise; a mask; a pretense.  [1913 Webster]

  "[I will] pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page."  [1913 Webster]
•  The calyptra of mosses.  [1913 Webster]
•  A covering for a person or thing; as, a nun's veil; a paten veil; an altar veil.  [1913 Webster]
•  Same as Velum, 3.  [1913 Webster]

To take the veil (Eccl.), to receive or be covered with, a veil, as a nun, in token of retirement from the world; to become a nun.

Veil, v. t. [Cf. OF. veler, F. voiler, L. velarc. See Veil, n.].

•  To throw a veil over; to cover with a veil.  [1913 Webster]

  "Her face was veiled; yet to my fancied sight,
  Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined."  [1913 Webster]
•  Fig.: To invest; to cover; to hide; to conceal.  [1913 Webster]

  "To keep your great pretenses veiled."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Veil, n. & v.
--n.
1 a piece of usu. more or less transparent fabric attached to a woman's hat etc., esp. to conceal the face or protect against the sun, dust, etc.
2 a piece of linen etc. as part of a nun's head-dress, resting on the head and shoulders.
3 a curtain, esp. that separating the sanctuary in the Jewish Temple.
4 a disguise; a pretext; a thing that conceals (under the veil of friendship; a veil of mist).
5 Photog. slight fogging.
6 huskiness of the voice.
7 = VELUM.
--v.tr.
1 cover with a veil.
2 (esp. as veiled adj.) partly conceal (veiled threats).

Idiom

beyond the veil in the unknown state of life after death. draw a veil over avoid discussing or calling attention to. take the veil become a nun.

Derivative

veilless adj.

Etymology

ME f. AF veil(e), OF voil(e) f. L vela pl. of VELUM

THESAURUS

Veil

alibi, apology, apply to, awning, bamboo curtain, barrier of secrecy, beach umbrella, becloud, befog, blackout, blanket, blind, block, bosom, camouflage, canopy, censorship, classify, cloak, clothe, cloud, coat, color, coloring, conceal, cope, cover, cover story, cover up, cover-up, coverage, covering, covert, coverture, cowl, cowling, curtain, device, disguise, dissemble, distract attention from, drape, drapery, draw the curtains, eclipse, enclose, ensconce, enshroud, envelop, enwrap, excuse, facade, false front, feint, file and forget, film, front, gloss, gloss over, guise, handle, hanging, hide, hold out on, hood, housing, hush-up, in petto, invest, iron curtain, ironbound security, keep, keep back, keep between us, keep buttoned up, keep close, keep dark, keep from, keep in ignorance, keep mum, keep secret, keep snug, keep under cover, keep under wraps, lame excuse, lay on, lay over, light shield, locus standi, make no sign, mantilla, mantle, mask, muffle, never let on, not give away, not tell, oath of secrecy, obduce, obfuscate, obscure, occult, official secrecy, ostensible motive, overlay, overshadow, overspread, pall, parasol, play dumb, poor excuse, pretense, pretension, pretext, protestation, public motive, put on, put-off, refuge, repression, screen, scum, seal of secrecy, secrete, security, semblance, shade, shader, shadow, sham, shelter, shield, show, shroud, shutter, slur over, smoke screen, smothering, spread over, stalking-horse, stifling, stratagem, subterfuge, sunblind, sunshade, superimpose, superpose, suppression, trick, umbrella, varnish, veil of secrecy, veiler, veiling, vestment, whitewash, withhold, wrap, wraps, yashmak

ROGET THESAURUS

Veil

Clothing

N clothing, investment, covering, dress, raiment, drapery, costume, attire, guise, toilet, toilette, trim, habiliment, vesture, vestment, garment, garb, palliament, apparel, wardrobe, wearing apparel, clothes, things, underclothes, array, tailoring, millinery, finery, full dress, garniture, theatrical properties, outfit, equipment, trousseau, uniform, regimentals, continentals, canonicals, livery, gear, harness, turn-out, accouterment, caparison, suit, rigging, trappings, traps, slops, togs, toggery, day wear, night wear, zoot suit, designer clothes, masquerade, dishabille, morning dress, undress, kimono, lungi, shooting-coat, mufti, rags, tatters, old clothes, mourning, weeds, duds, slippers, robe, tunic, paletot, habit, gown, coat, frock, blouse, toga, smock frock, claw coat, hammer coat, Prince Albert coat, sack coat, tuxedo coat, frock coat, dress coat, tail coat, cloak, pall, mantle, mantlet mantua, shawl, pelisse, wrapper, veil, cape, tippet, kirtle, plaid, muffler, comforter, haik, huke, chlamys, mantilla, tabard, housing, horse cloth, burnoose, burnous, roquelaure, houppelande, surcoat, overcoat, great coat, surtout, spencer, mackintosh, waterproof, raincoat, ulster, P-coat, dreadnought, wraprascal, poncho, cardinal, pelerine, barbe, chudder, jubbah, oilskins, pajamas, pilot jacket, talma jacket, vest, jerkin, waistcoat, doublet, camisole, gabardine, farthingale, kilt, jupe, crinoline, bustle, panier, skirt, apron, pinafore, bloomer, bloomers, chaqueta, songtag, tablier, pants, trousers, trowsers, breeches, pantaloons, inexpressibles, overalls, smalls, small clothes, shintiyan, shorts, jockey shorts, boxer shorts, tights, drawers, panties, unmentionables, knickers, knickerbockers, philibeg, fillibeg, pants suit, culottes, jeans, blue jeans, dungarees, denims, Levis, Calvin Klein, Calvins, Bonjour, Gloria Vanderbilt, headdress, headgear, chapeau, crush hat, opera hat, kaffiyeh, sombrero, jam, tam-o-shanter, tarboosh, topi, sola topi, pagri, puggaree, cap, hat, beaver hat, coonskin cap, castor, bonnet, tile, wideawake, billycock, wimple, nightcap, mobcap, skullcap, hood, coif, capote, calash, kerchief, snood, babushka, head, coiffure, crown, chignon, pelt, wig, front, peruke, periwig, caftan, turban, fez, shako, csako, busby, kepi, forage cap, bearskin, baseball cap, fishing hat, helmet, mask, domino, body clothes, linen, hickory shirt, shirt, sark, smock, shift, chemise, night gown, negligee, dressing gown, night shirt, bedgown, sac de nuit, underclothes, underpants, undershirt, slip, brassiere, corset, stays, corsage, corset, corselet, bodice, girdle, stomacher, petticoat, panties, under waistcoat, jock, athletic supporter, jockstrap, sweater, jersey, cardigan, turtleneck, pullover, sweater vest, neckerchief, neckcloth, tie, ruff, collar, cravat, stock, handkerchief, scarf, bib, tucker, boa, cummerbund, rumal, rabat, shoe, pump, boot, slipper, sandal, galoche, galoshes, patten, clog, sneakers, running shoes, hiking boots, high-low, Blucher boot, wellington boot, Hessian boot, jack boot, top boot, Balmoral, arctics, bootee, bootikin, brogan, chaparajos, chavar, chivarras, chivarros, gums, larrigan, rubbers, showshoe, stogy, veldtschoen, legging, buskin, greave, galligaskin, gamache, gamashes, moccasin, gambado, gaiter, spatterdash, brogue, antigropelos, stocking, hose, gaskins, trunk hose, sock, hosiery, glove, gauntlet, mitten, cuff, wristband, sleeve, swaddling cloth, baby linen, layette, ice wool, taffeta, pocket handkerchief, hanky, hankie, clothier, tailor, milliner, costumier, sempstress, snip, dressmaker, habitmaker, breechesmaker, shoemaker, Crispin, friseur, cordwainer, cobbler, hosier, hatter, draper, linen draper, haberdasher, mercer, diaper, nappy, disposable diaper, cloth diaper, Luvs Huggies, invested, habited, dighted, barbed, barded, clad, costume, shod, chausse, en grande tenue, sartorial, the soul of this man is his clothes.

Shade

N shade, awning, parasol, sunshade, umbrella, chick, portiere, screen, curtain, shutter, blind, gauze, veil, chador, mantle, mask, cloud, mist, gathering, of clouds, umbrage, glade, shadow, beach umbrella, folding umbrella, shady, umbrageous, welcome ye shades! ye bowery thickets hail.

VB draw a curtain, put up a shutter, close a shutter, veil, cast a shadow.

Concealment

VB conceal, hide, secrete, put out of sight, lock up, seal up, bottle up, encrypt, encode, cipher, cover, screen, cloak, veil, shroud, cover up one's tracks, screen from sight, screen from observation, drawing the veil, draw the curtain, close the curtain, curtain, shade, eclipse, throw a view over, be cloud, be mask, mask, disguise, ensconce, muffle, smother, befog, whisper, keep from, keep back, keep to oneself, keep snug, keep close, keep secret, keep dark, bury, sink, suppress, keep from, keep from out of view, keep from out of sight, keep in the shade, throw into the shade, throw into background, stifle, hush up, smother, withhold, reserve, fence with a question, ignore, keep a secret, keep one's own counsel, hold one's tongue, make no sign, not let it go further, not breathe a word, not breathe a syllable about, not let the right hand know what the left is doing, hide one's light under a bushel, bury one's talent in a napkin, keep in the dark, leave in the dark, keep in the ignorance, blind, blind the eyes, blindfold, hoodwink, mystify, puzzle, bamboozle, be concealed, suffer an eclipse, retire from sight, couch, hide oneself, lie hid, lie in perdu, lie in close, lie in ambush (ambush), seclude oneself, lurk, sneak, skulk, slink, prowl, steal into, steal out of, steal by, steal along, play at bopeep, play at hide and seek, hide in holes and corners, still hunt.

Ambush

N ambush, camouflage, mimicry, hiding place, secret place, secret drawer, recess, hold, holes and corners, closet, crypt, adytum, abditory, oubliette, ambush, ambuscade, stalking horse, lurking hole, lurking place, secret path, back stairs, retreat, screen, cover, shade, blinker, veil, curtain, blind, cloak, cloud, mask, visor, vizor, disguise, masquerade dress, domino, pitfall, trap, camouflaged, hidden, concealed, aux aguets.