veil
veil Lexical Profile
veil Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A piece of fine, often semi-transparent material worn over the head or face for protection, concealment, or religious and ceremonial purposes.
"The bride wore a delicate lace veil that trailed behind her as she walked down the aisle."
A thing that conceals, disguises, or obscures something else.
"The government's covert operations were shrouded in a thick veil of secrecy."
• verb
To cover with or as if with a veil.
"Thick morning fog veiled the valley, making it impossible for the hikers to see the road ahead."
To conceal, disguise, or obscure something, often referring to an emotion or intention.
"She carefully veiled her disappointment behind a warm and polite smile."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word 'veil' is occasionally confused in spelling with its homophone 'vale', which means a valley or, poetically, a farewell.
• Rhymes for veil
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'veile', borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Old French 'veile', which derives from Latin 'vela', the plural of 'velum' meaning 'sail, curtain, or covering'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.