Veil. n.s. [velum, Latin.]
- A cover to conceal the face.
To feed his fiery lustful eye,
He snatch'd the veil that hung her face before. Fairy Queen.The Paphian queen from that fierce battle borne,
With gored hand, and veil so rudely torn,
Like terror did among the immortals breed. Waller.The famous painter cou'd allow no place
For private sorrow in a prince's face:
Yet, that his piece might not exceed belief,
He cast a veil upon the supposed grief. Waller.As veils transparent cover, but not hide,
Such metaphors appear when right apply'd,
When through the phrase we plainly see the sense,
Truth with such obvious meanings will dispense. Granville.She accepts the hero, and the dame
Wraps in her vail, and frees from sense of shame. Pope. - A cover; a disguise.
I will pluck the borrow'd veil of modesty from the so seeming Mrs. Page; divulge Page himself for a secure and wilful Acteon. Shakesp. Merry Wives of Windsor.
Knock on my heart; for thou hast skill to find
If it sound solid, or be fill'd with wind;
And thro' the veil of words thou view'st the naked mind. Dry.The ill-natured man exposes those failing in human nature, which the other would cast a veil over. Addison.
