Dictionary
1lie
verb \ˈlī\
lay \ˈlā\ lain \ˈlān\ ly·ing \ˈlī-iŋ\
Definition of LIE
intransitive verb
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
8
: remain; especially : to remain unused, unsought, or uncared for
— 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
Usage Discussion of LIE
lay has been used intransitively in the sense of “lie” since the 14th century. The practice was unremarked until around 1770; attempts to correct it have been a fixture of schoolbooks ever since. Generations of teachers and critics have succeeded in taming most literary and learned writing, but intransitive lay persists in familiar speech and is a bit more common in general prose than one might suspect. Much of the problem lies in the confusing similarity of the principal parts of the two words. Another influence may be a folk belief that lie is for people and lay is for things. Some commentators are ready to abandon the distinction, suggesting that lay is on the rise socially. But if it does rise to respectability, it is sure to do so slowly: many people have invested effort in learning to keep lie and lay distinct. Remember that even though many people do use lay for lie, others will judge you unfavorably if you do.
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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>
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)
LIE[1] Defined for Kids
1lie
verb \ˈlī\
lay \ˈlā\lain \ˈlān\ly·ing \ˈlī-iŋ\
Definition of LIE for Kids
1
: to stretch out or be stretched out <He lay on the ground.>
2
: to be spread flat so as to cover <There was snow lying on the fields.>
3
: to be located or placed <Ohio lies east of Indiana.>
4
: to be or stay <A key lies under the mat.>
2lie
verb
liedly·ing
Definition of LIE for Kids
: to say something that is not true in order to deceive someone
3lie
noun
Definition of LIE for Kids
: something said or done in the hope of deceiving : an untrue statement
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