lie

¹lie

intransitive verb \ˈlī\

lay \ˈlā\ lain \ˈlān\ ly·ing \ˈlī-iŋ\

Definition of LIE

1

a : to be or to stay at rest in a horizontal position : be prostrate : rest, recline <lie motionless> <lie asleep>

b : to assume a horizontal position —often used with down

c archaic : to reside temporarily : stay for the night : lodge

d : to have sexual intercourse —used with with

e : to remain inactive (as in concealment) <lie in wait>

2

: to be in a helpless or defenseless state <the town lay at the mercy of the invaders>

3

of an inanimate thing : to be or remain in a flat or horizontal position upon a broad support <books lying on the table>

4

: to have direction : extend <the route lay to the west>

5

a : to occupy a certain relative place or position <hills lie behind us>

b : to have a place in relation to something else <the real reason lies deeper>

c : to have an effect through mere presence, weight, or relative position <remorse lay heavily on him>

d : to be sustainable or admissible

6

: to remain at anchor or becalmed

7

a : to have place : exist <the choice lay between fighting or surrendering>

b : consist, belong <the success of the book lies in its direct style> <responsibility lay with the adults>

8

: remain; especially : to remain unused, unsought, or uncared for

See Usage Discussion at lay

— li·er \ˈlī(-ə)r\ noun

— lie low

1

: to lie prostrate, defeated, or disgraced

2

: to stay in hiding : strive to avoid notice

3

: to bide one's time : remain secretly ready for action

Origin of LIE

Middle English, from Old English licgan; akin to Old High German ligen to lie, Latin lectus bed, Greek lechos

First Known Use: before 12th century

²lie

noun \ˈlī\

Definition of LIE

1

chiefly British : lay 6

2

: the position or situation in which something lies (see ¹lie) <a golf ball in a difficult lie>

3

: the haunt of an animal (as a fish) : covert

4

British : an act or instance of lying or resting

Origin of LIE

(see ¹lie)

First Known Use: 1697

³lie

verb \ˈlī\

liedly·ing \ˈlī-iŋ\

Definition of LIE

intransitive verb

1

: to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive

2

: to create a false or misleading impression

transitive verb

: to bring about by telling lies <lied his way out of trouble>

Origin of LIE

Middle English, from Old English lēogan; akin to Old High German liogan to lie, Old Church Slavic lŭgati

First Known Use: before 12th century

Synonym Discussion of LIE

lie, prevaricate, equivocate, palter, fib mean to tell an untruth. lie is the blunt term, imputing dishonesty <lied about where he had been>. prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue <during the hearings the witness did his best to prevaricate>. equivocate implies using words having more than one sense so as to seem to say one thing but intend another <equivocated endlessly in an attempt to mislead her inquisitors>. palter implies making unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises <a swindler paltering with his investors>. fib applies to a telling of a trivial untruth <fibbed about the price of the new suit>.

⁴lie

noun \ˈlī\

Definition of LIE

1

a : an assertion of something known or believed by the speaker to be untrue with intent to deceive

b : an untrue or inaccurate statement that may or may not be believed true by the speaker

2

: something that misleads or deceives

3

: a charge of lying (see ³lie)

Origin of LIE

Middle English lige, lie, from Old English lyge; akin to Old High German lugī, Old English lēogan to lie

First Known Use: before 12th century

Lie

biographical name \ˈlē\

Definition of LIE

Jonas 1833–1908 Norw. nov. & dram.

Lie

biographical name

Definition of LIE

Trygve Halvdan 1896–1968 Norw. lawyer; secy.-gen. of U.N. (1946–52)