dissembler

A rare, literary verb meaning to be dissimilar or not to resemble — the negative counterpart of ressembler, essentially extinct in everyday speech and found mainly in classical or philosophical prose.

• Rien ne dissemble plus de lui que lui-même. — Nothing is more unlike him than himself.
• Ces deux styles dissemblent complètement. — These two styles are completely dissimilar.
• Son caractère dissemble de celui de son frère. — His character is unlike that of his brother.

This verb is essentially a museum piece today — a learner will never need to produce it; recognizing it while reading classical authors like Diderot is its only real use.

Often confused with ressembler.

• book Le Neveu de Rameau — Diderot's philosophical dialogue contains the line "Rien ne dissemble plus de lui que lui-même," a documented literary use of dissembler.