hide
UK[haɪd]US[haɪd]
v
To put or keep out of sight; to conceal
v
To keep secret
n
The skin of an animal, especially when tanned or dressed
Etymology
The verb "hide" (to conceal) descends from the Old English hȳdan, meaning "to hide, conceal, preserve." This word has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as Old Norse hýða and is traced back to the Proto-Germanic root hūdijaną, itself from the Proto-Indo-European root (s)keu-, meaning "to cover, conceal." The noun "hide" (animal skin) comes from the Old English hȳd, related to Old High German hūt and Latin cutis (skin), all deriving from the same PIE root (s)keu- via the Proto-Germanic hūdiz. The semantic connection lies in the concept of a covering: the skin covers the body, and to hide is to cover something from view. Over time, these two distinct but etymologically related words merged into the identical modern spelling and pronunciation.
Analysis
The modern English word "hide" is a simplex word derived from a single, tight Germanic root. Its two primary meanings (to conceal and animal skin) originate from two distinct but homophonous Old English words.
Examples
She tried to hide her disappointment with a smile.
The investigation aimed to uncover the facts the company sought to hide.
The ancient scroll was written on cured animal hide.