dim vs veil

dim

verb
  • To make something less bright. 

  • To render dim, obscure, or dark; to make less bright or distinct 

  • To deprive of distinct vision; to hinder from seeing clearly, either by dazzling or clouding the eyes; to darken the senses or understanding of. 

  • To become darker. 

adj
  • Not bright or colorful. 

  • Indistinct, hazy or unclear. 

  • Not smart or intelligent. 

  • Disapproving, unfavorable: rarely used outside the phrase take a dim view of. 

veil

verb
  • To conceal as with a veil. 

  • To dress in, or decorate with, a veil. 

noun
  • A thin layer of tissue which is attached to or covers a mushroom. 

  • A cover; disguise; a mask; a pretense. 

  • A membrane connecting the margin of the pileus of a mushroom with the stalk; a velum. 

  • Anything that partially obscures a clear view. 

  • A covering for a person or thing; as, a caul (especially over the head) 

  • The calyptra of mosses. 

  • That which separates the living and the spirit world. 

  • An obscuration of the clearness of the tones in pronunciation. 

  • velum (A circular membrane round the cap of a medusa). 

  • Something hung up or spread out to hide or protect the face, or hide an object from view; usually of gauze, crepe, or similar diaphanous material. 

How often have the words dim and veil occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )