From Middle English lien, liggen, from Old English liċġan, from Proto-West Germanic *liggjan, from Proto-Germanic *ligjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ-.
Cognates
Cognate with Yola lee, lidge (“to lie”), North Frisian lade, lai, laie, lei, lii, läde, läie (“to lie; to lay”), Saterland Frisian lääse (“to lie; to lay”), West Frisian lizze (“to lie”), Alemannic German ligge (“to lie”), Central Franconian lijje (“to lie”), Dutch and Dutch Low Saxon liggen (“to lie”), German liegen (“to lie”), German Low German ligge, liggen (“to lie”), Luxembourgish leien (“to lie”), Yiddish ליגן (lign, “to lie”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål ligge (“to lie”), Faroese and Icelandic liggja (“to lie”), Norwegian Nynorsk ligge, liggja, liggje (“to lie”), Swedish ligga (“to lie”), Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌲𐌰𐌽 (ligan, “to lie, to rest”); and with Irish laigh, luigh (“to lie”), Manx lhie (“lie; lay”), Scottish Gaelic laigh (“lie; lay”), Faliscan 𐌋𐌄𐌂𐌄𐌕 (lecet, “he lies down”), Latin lectus (“bed”), South Picene 𐌅𐌄𐌉𐌀𐌕 (veiat, “to lie”), Ancient Greek λέχομαι (lékhomai, “to lie down”), Albanian lag (“band, encampment, troop”), Belarusian ляжа́ць (ljažácʹ, “to lie”), Bulgarian лежа́ (ležá, “to lie”), Czech ležet (“to lie”), Macedonian лежи (leži, “to lie”), Polish leżeć (“to lie”), Russian лежа́ть (ležátʹ, “to lie”), Serbo-Croatian лѐжати, lèžati (“to lie”), Slovene ležáti (“to lie”), Ukrainian лежа́ти (ležáty, “to lie”), Tocharian B lyäk- (“to lie”).
As a noun for position, the noun has the same etymology above as the verb.
Meanings
(intransitive) To rest in a horizontal position on a surface.
The watchful traveller […] / Lay down again, and closed his weary eyes. 1660, [John] Dryden, Astraea Redux:
The book lies on the table; the snow lies on the roof; he lies in his coffin.
Under an oak were lying asleep a pair of shepherds.
The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom. Whirling wreaths and columns of burning wind, rushed around and over them. 1892, James Yoxall, chapter 5, in The Lonely Pyramid:
Though ye haue lien among the pots, yet shall yee bee as the wings of a doue, couered with siluer, and her feathers with yellow gold. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 68:13:
Our uninquiring corpses lie more low / Than our life's curiosity doth go. 1849, Henry David Thoreau, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers:
(intransitive) To be placed or situated.
Ying-yang county lies 70 li southwest of the modern Teng-feng county, Honan. 1988, Robin D. S. Yates, “Selected Translations”, in Washing Silk: The Life and Selected Poetry of Wei Chuang (834?-910), Harvard University Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 100:
From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away. 2013 June 8, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52:
Hepaticology, outside the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere, still lies deep in the shadow cast by that ultimate "closet taxonomist," Franz Stephani—a ghost whose shadow falls over us all. 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page vii:
(copulative, intransitive) To abide; to remain for a longer or shorter time; to be in a certain state or condition.
The paper does not lie smooth on the wall.
to lie waste; to lie fallow; to lie open; to lie hidden; to lie grieving; to lie under one's displeasure; to lie at the mercy of the waves
Used with in: to be or exist; to belong or pertain; to have an abiding place; to consist.
He that thinks that diversion may not lie in hard labour, forgets the early rising and hard riding of huntsmen. 1693, [John Locke], “§2016”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC:
Envy lies between beings equal in nature, though unequal in circumstances. c. 1690, Jeremy Collier, Of Envy:
There was, according to Lukács, a 'contradiction' between their literary performance and their political attitudes. It is not clear, however, in what this 'contradiction' lay. 1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume III: The Breakdown, Oxford: Clarendon Press, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: rozkład (in Polish), →ISBN, →OCLC, page 292:
Used with with: to have sexual relations with.
And it came to passe after these things, that his masters wife cast her eyes vpon Ioseph, and shee said, Lie with me. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 39:7:
Used with on/upon: to be incumbent (on); to be the responsibility of a person.
(archaic) To lodge; to sleep.
While I was now trifling at home, I saw London, […] where I lay one night only. 1632, John Evelyn, diary, entry 21 October 1632:
Mr. Quinion lay at our house that night. 1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, chapter 10, in The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC:
To be still or quiet, like one lying down to rest.
The Wind is lowd, and will not lie till the Ship be cleard of the dead. c. 1607–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, [George Wilkins?], The Late, and Much Admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: […] [William White and Thomas Creede] for Henry Gosson, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
To be sustainable; to be capable of being maintained.
An appeal lies in this case from the ordinary to the arches. 1737, Cart against Marsh (legal case)
ar اِضْطَجَعَ (be in horizontal position) · ia jacer (be in horizontal position) · ne तेर्सिनु (be in horizontal position) · ro sta orizontal (be in horizontal position) · ru полежа́ть (be in horizontal position) · es estar acostado (be in horizontal position) · fi maata (be in horizontal position) · zh 䖙 (be in horizontal position) · ko 놓이다 (be in horizontal position) · uz yotmoq (be in horizontal position) · es yacer (be in horizontal position) · el κείτομαι (be in horizontal position) · tg дароз кашидан (be in horizontal position) · nl liggen (be in horizontal position) · be ле́гчы (be in horizontal position) · et asuma (be situated) · dsb lažaś (be situated) · nn liggje (be in horizontal position) · es estar ubicado (be situated) · ang liċġan (be in horizontal position) · da ligge (be in horizontal position) · ba ятыу (be in horizontal position) · es entibar (be situated) · fr gésir (be in horizontal position) · hi पड़ा होना (be in horizontal position) · su kedeng (be in horizontal position) · sv ligga (be in horizontal position) · ta கிட (be in horizontal position) · az uzanmaq (be in horizontal position) · ar ضَجَعَ (be in horizontal position) · izh ležžiä (be in horizontal position) · pl leżeć (be in horizontal position) · ca jeure (be in horizontal position) · mi whāriki (be in horizontal position) · ja 臥す (be in horizontal position) · mk се простира (be situated) · nl liggen (be situated) · it risiedere (be situated) · et asetsema (be situated) · mk се протега (be situated) · mi tangita (be in horizontal position) · pt localizar-se (be situated) · mk лежи (be in horizontal position) · rm giaschair (be in horizontal position) · it essere sdraiato (be in horizontal position) · es estribar (be situated) · tt ятарга (be in horizontal position) · et lebama (be in horizontal position) · uk лягти́ (be in horizontal position) · kk жату (be in horizontal position) · ru лежа́ть (be situated) · ur لیٹنا (be in horizontal position) · cs ležet (be in horizontal position) · af lê (be in horizontal position) · ur پڑا ہونا (be in horizontal position) · pt jazer (be situated) · ga luigh (be in horizontal position) · io jacar (be in horizontal position) · bn শোয়া (be in horizontal position) · hi लेटना (be in horizontal position) · ta இரு (be situated) · nb ligge (be in horizontal position) · fi loikoa (be in horizontal position) · oc jàser (be in horizontal position) · ttj -byama (be in horizontal position) · got 𐌻𐌹𐌲𐌰𐌽 (be in horizontal position) · fr être étendu (be in horizontal position) · nv sitą́ (be in horizontal position) · id membaringkan (be in horizontal position) · da ligge (be situated) · fi olla (be situated) · fi sijaita (be situated) · fa دراز کشیدن (be in horizontal position) · tr yatmak (be in horizontal position) · pt jazer (be in horizontal position) · et paiknema (be situated) · zea ligge (be in horizontal position) · wa ripoizer (be in horizontal position) · ur پڑنا (be in horizontal position) · de ligge (be in horizontal position) · nds liggen (be in horizontal position) · cy gorwedd (be in horizontal position) · st lala (be in horizontal position) · zh тон (be in horizontal position) · ro se găsi (be situated) · pt ficar (be situated) · ur لیٹا ہونا (be in horizontal position) · km ដេក (be in horizontal position) · lv gulēt (be in horizontal position) · is liggja (be in horizontal position) · sh lèžati (be in horizontal position) · sk ležať (be in horizontal position) · uk лежа́ти (be in horizontal position) · it trovarsi (be situated) · nn liggja (be in horizontal position) · he שָׁכַב (be in horizontal position) · ee mlɔ anyi (be in horizontal position) · es reposar (be in horizontal position) · de liegen (be in horizontal position) · tr uzanmak (be in horizontal position) · ca trobar-se (be situated) · et lasuma (be in horizontal position) · mi takoto (be in horizontal position) · de liegen (be situated) · la cubō (be in horizontal position) · ga luigh (be situated) · pt estar deitado (be in horizontal position) · dsb lažaś (be in horizontal position) · ml കിടക്കുക (be in horizontal position) · mn хэвтэх (be in horizontal position) · ba урынлашыу (be situated) · wa esse coûtchî (be in horizontal position) · tk uzanmak (be in horizontal position) · ky жатуу (be in horizontal position) · rad đih (be in horizontal position) · ja 横になる (be in horizontal position) · pl leżeć (be situated) · hy պառկել (be in horizontal position) · ang liċġan (be situated) · fr se trouver (be situated) · be ляжа́ць (be in horizontal position) · uga 𐎌𐎋𐎁 (be in horizontal position) · ms baring (be in horizontal position) · ta படு (be in horizontal position) · eo kuŝi (be in horizontal position) · sq shtrihet (be situated) · cmn 地處 /地处 (be situated) · no ligge (be situated) · fr être couché (be in horizontal position) · it giacere (be in horizontal position) · hi पड़ना (be in horizontal position) · tl humiga (be in horizontal position) · ar تَمَدَّدَ (be in horizontal position) · mi tāeki (be in horizontal position) · ro fi situat (be situated) · ja 横たわる (be in horizontal position) · mi whakamaho (be in horizontal position) · sq shtrihem (be in horizontal position) · zea leie (be in horizontal position) · ru лечь (be in horizontal position) · gl estar deitado (be in horizontal position) · grc κεῖμαι (be in horizontal position) · ru находи́ться (be situated) · bg лежа́ (be in horizontal position) · sl ležati (be in horizontal position) · atv чадарга (be in horizontal position) · cs ležet (be situated) · rm scher (be in horizontal position) · gd laigh (be in horizontal position) · it essere posto (be situated) · ro zăcea (be in horizontal position) · ru лежа́ть (be in horizontal position) · ru располага́ться (be situated) · cmn 位於 /位于 (be situated) · ta உள்ளது (be situated) · hy գտնվել (be situated) · qu siriy (be in horizontal position) · vi nằm (be in horizontal position) · cu лежати (be in horizontal position) · nl gelegen zijn (be situated) · zh 躺 (be in horizontal position) · sv ligga (be situated) · lb leien (be in horizontal position) · es estar alebrado (be in horizontal position) · sh лѐжати (be in horizontal position) · id berbaring (be in horizontal position) · my လှဲ (be in horizontal position) · yi ליגן (be in horizontal position) · ro sta întins (be in horizontal position) · wa esse metou (be situated) · hi लेटा होना (be in horizontal position) · es radicar (be situated) · es estar echado (be in horizontal position) · lo ສະຍະ (be in horizontal position) · txb lyäk- (be in horizontal position) · es yacer (be situated) · et lesima (be in horizontal position) · mi tanewha (be situated) · rm star starnia (be in horizontal position) · tk ýatmak (be in horizontal position) · ro sta culcat (be in horizontal position) · la iaceō (be in horizontal position) · ka წოლა (be in horizontal position) · syl ꠢꠥꠔꠣ (be in horizontal position) · mi tāeki (be situated) · yue 瞓 /𰥛 (be in horizontal position) · fo liggja (be in horizontal position) · th ทอดตัว (be in horizontal position) · cmn 坐落 (be situated) · rm star taro (be in horizontal position) · it essere disteso (be in horizontal position) · ba ятыу (be situated) · lt gulėti (be in horizontal position) · zza derg biyen (be in horizontal position) · alt јадар (be in horizontal position) · fi lojua (be in horizontal position) · es estar tumbado (be in horizontal position) · hu fekszik (be in horizontal position) · zea legge (be in horizontal position)
From Middle English lien (“to lie, tell a falsehood”), from Old English lēogan (“to lie”), from Proto-West Germanic *leugan, from Proto-Germanic *leuganą (“to lie”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewgʰ- (“to announce, tell publicly”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots lee (“to lie”), North Frisian jooge, leeg, löög (“to lie”), Saterland Frisian ljooge (“to lie”), West Frisian lige (“to lie”), Bavarian liagn (“to lie”), Dutch liegen (“to lie”), German lügen (“to lie”), Luxembourgish léien (“to lie”), Danish lyve (“to lie”), Faroese lúgva (“to lie”), Icelandic ljúga (“to lie”), Norwegian Bokmål juge, lyge, lyve (“to lie”), Norwegian Nynorsk ljuga, ljuge, lyga, lyge (“to lie”), Scanian ljuğa (“to lie”), Swedish ljuga (“to lie”), Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌲𐌰𐌽 (liugan, “to lie”); also Breton le (“vow”), Cornish li (“oath”), Welsh llw (“oath, pledge, vow; curse, swear word”), Latvian lùgt (“to ask; to request; to seek; to plead; to solicit; to invoke; to desire”), Belarusian ілга́ць (ilhácʹ), лга́ць (lhácʹ, “to lie”), Bulgarian лъжа (lăža, “to lie”), Czech lhát (“to lie”), Kashubian łżec (“to lie”), Macedonian ла́же (láže, “to lie”), Polish łgać (“to lie”), Russian лгать (lgatʹ, “to lie”), Serbo-Croatian ла̀гати, làgati (“to lie”), Slovak luhať (“to lie”), Slovene lagáti (“to lie”).
Meanings
(intransitive) To give false information intentionally with intent to deceive.
Lie to get what I came for
Lie to get just what I need
Lie to get what I crave
Lie and smile to get what's mine 2003, “The Package”, performed by A Perfect Circle:
Don't lie to me!
It is true that the latter had assumed much more of the fault than was rightly his, but if he lied a little he may be excused, for he lied in the service of a woman, and he lied like a gentleman. 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 54:
When Pinocchio lies, his nose grows.
If you are found to have lied in court, you could face a penalty.
(intransitive) To convey a false image or impression.
Photographs often lie.
(colloquial, intransitive) To be mistaken or unintentionally spread false information.
Sorry, I haven't seen your keys anywhere...wait, I lied! They're right there on the coffee table.
Well, he was up in Wyoming / And drew a bull no man could ride / He promised her he'd turn out / Well, it turned out that he lied 1995, Garth Brooks, Dan Roberts, Bryan Kennedy, “The Beaches of Cheyenne”, in Fresh Horses, performed by Garth Brooks:
qu llullay (tell an intentional untruth) · ar كدب (tell an intentional untruth) · ro minți (tell an intentional untruth) · be браха́ць (tell an intentional untruth) · atv тӧгӱндеерге (tell an intentional untruth) · az yalançılıq etmək (tell an intentional untruth) · id berdusta (tell an intentional untruth) · et valetama (tell an intentional untruth) · ckb درۆ کردن (tell an intentional untruth) · izh valehella (tell an intentional untruth) · izh kedrätä (tell an intentional untruth) · pl okłamywać (tell an intentional untruth) · ba алдатыу (tell an intentional untruth) · fa دروغ گفتن (tell an intentional untruth) · mk лаже (tell an intentional untruth) · ka ტყუილი (tell an intentional untruth) · haw punipuni (tell an intentional untruth) · lb léien (tell an intentional untruth) · grc ψεύδομαι (tell an intentional untruth) · la mentior (tell an intentional untruth) · lv melot (tell an intentional untruth) · be хлусі́ць (tell an intentional untruth) · se gielistit (tell an intentional untruth) · id mendustai (tell an intentional untruth) · fi syöttää pajunköyttä (tell an intentional untruth) · eu gezur(ra)(k) esan (tell an intentional untruth) · nn lyga (tell an intentional untruth) · ur جھوٹ بولنا (tell an intentional untruth) · sv ljuga (tell an intentional untruth) · de täuschen (tell an intentional untruth) · ru бреха́ть (tell an intentional untruth) · hy խաբել (tell an intentional untruth) · id dusta (tell an intentional untruth) · fi puhua puppua (tell an intentional untruth) · nl liegen (tell an intentional untruth) · id berbohong (tell an intentional untruth) · ca mentir (tell an intentional untruth) · hy ստել (tell an intentional untruth) · fi laskea luikuria (tell an intentional untruth) · rom xoxavel (tell an intentional untruth) · he שיקר \ שִׁקֵּר (tell an intentional untruth) · pro mentir (tell an intentional untruth) · kxd kelakar (tell an intentional untruth) · kk өтірік айту (tell an intentional untruth) · vi nói dối (tell an intentional untruth) · tg дуруғ гуфтан (tell an intentional untruth) · tsg puting (tell an intentional untruth) · is ljúga (tell an intentional untruth) · av гьереси бицине (tell an intentional untruth) · es embustir (tell an intentional untruth) · izh petellä (tell an intentional untruth) · cs lhát (tell an intentional untruth) · km ភរ (tell an intentional untruth) · af lieg (tell an intentional untruth) · fy lige (tell an intentional untruth) · lo ຕໍແຫລ (tell an intentional untruth) · fur mintî (tell an intentional untruth) · ba алдау (tell an intentional untruth) · th โกหก (tell an intentional untruth) · wa bourder (tell an intentional untruth) · ltg maluot (tell an intentional untruth) · vo lugön (tell an intentional untruth) · alt тӧгӱн айдар (tell an intentional untruth) · es mentir (tell an intentional untruth) · bn মিছা বলা (tell an intentional untruth) · sl lagati (tell an intentional untruth) · sh ла̀гати (tell an intentional untruth) · om sobuu (tell an intentional untruth) · nb lyge (tell an intentional untruth) · yue 講大話 /讲大话 (tell an intentional untruth) · ta பொய் சொல் (tell an intentional untruth) · izh vallaa (tell an intentional untruth) · zyp hing (tell an intentional untruth) · ee da alakpa (tell an intentional untruth) · rue брехати (tell an intentional untruth) · ar كذّب (tell an intentional untruth) · mr खोटे बोलणे (tell an intentional untruth) · nds lögen (tell an intentional untruth) · rm gir manzegnas (tell an intentional untruth) · es bolacear (tell an intentional untruth) · af jok (tell an intentional untruth) · kk жалған сөйлеу (tell an intentional untruth) · is skrökva (tell an intentional untruth) · ko 거짓말하다 (tell an intentional untruth) · zh 白賊 /白贼 (tell an intentional untruth) · st maka (tell an intentional untruth) · got 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌲𐌰𐌽 (tell an intentional untruth) · aln rre (tell an intentional untruth) · pl kłamać (tell an intentional untruth) · zh 說謊 /说谎 (tell an intentional untruth) · km ភូតភរ (tell an intentional untruth) · rm deir manzignas (tell an intentional untruth) · rup minciunedz (tell an intentional untruth) · id membohongi (tell an intentional untruth) · fro mançonge (tell an intentional untruth) · bn মিথ্যা বলা (tell an intentional untruth) · fo lúgva (tell an intentional untruth) · tr uydurmak (tell an intentional untruth) · yi לײַגן (tell an intentional untruth) · or ମିଛ କହିବାକୁ (tell an intentional untruth) · fi valehdella (tell an intentional untruth) · zh чә хуон (tell an intentional untruth) · km កុហក (tell an intentional untruth) · az yalan danışmaq (tell an intentional untruth) · gu ખોટું બોલવું (tell an intentional untruth) · oc mentir (tell an intentional untruth) · zza zuri kerden (tell an intentional untruth) · si බොරු කියනවා (tell an intentional untruth) · yi זאָגן ליגן (tell an intentional untruth) · fr mentir (tell an intentional untruth) · be лгаць (tell an intentional untruth) · shs qwílens (tell an intentional untruth) · id bohong (tell an intentional untruth) · ckb درۆ گوتن (tell an intentional untruth) · tum nyenga (tell an intentional untruth) · rm dir manzegnas (tell an intentional untruth) · ru врать (tell an intentional untruth) · my ညာ (tell an intentional untruth) · zh чуй (tell an intentional untruth) · nds legen (tell an intentional untruth) · br lavared gevier (tell an intentional untruth) · be ілга́ць (tell an intentional untruth) · lo ຕົວະ (tell an intentional untruth) · sk klamať (tell an intentional untruth) · rm dir manzögnas (tell an intentional untruth) · bg лъжа́ (tell an intentional untruth) · nn ljuga (tell an intentional untruth) · mfe manti (tell an intentional untruth) · fi narrata (tell an intentional untruth) · nb ljuge (tell an intentional untruth) · io mentiar (tell an intentional untruth) · gld делэн- (tell an intentional untruth) · ht manti (tell an intentional untruth) · sn kunyepa (tell an intentional untruth) · el λέω ψέματα (tell an intentional untruth) · vi nói láo (tell an intentional untruth) · ja 嘘を吐く (tell an intentional untruth) · hi झूठ बोलना (tell an intentional untruth) · be салга́ць (tell an intentional untruth) · tr yalan söylemek (tell an intentional untruth) · shs qwílenst (tell an intentional untruth) · de lügen (tell an intentional untruth) · ba алдашыу (tell an intentional untruth) · es embustear (tell an intentional untruth) · ru лгать (tell an intentional untruth) · chk mwaken (tell an intentional untruth) · km ភរភូត (tell an intentional untruth) · kmr derew kirin (tell an intentional untruth) · mt gideb (tell an intentional untruth) · fr mythonner (tell an intentional untruth) · gl mentir (tell an intentional untruth) · cu лъгати (tell an intentional untruth) · gmq-gut liauga (tell an intentional untruth) · mi ki te teka (tell an intentional untruth) · zh 撒謊 /撒谎 (tell an intentional untruth) · haw wahaheʻe (tell an intentional untruth) · mn хуурах (tell an intentional untruth) · el ψεύδομαι (tell an intentional untruth) · ab амцҳәара (tell an intentional untruth) · nn ljuge (tell an intentional untruth) · tk aldamak (tell an intentional untruth) · sh làgati (tell an intentional untruth) · ia mentir (tell an intentional untruth) · ar كَذَبَ (tell an intentional untruth) · ky калп айтуу (tell an intentional untruth) · uli kachepar (tell an intentional untruth) · da lyve (tell an intentional untruth) · am መዋሸት (tell an intentional untruth) · fi puhua palturia (tell an intentional untruth) · uz yolgʻon gapirmoq (tell an intentional untruth) · ast mentir (tell an intentional untruth) · ny -nama (tell an intentional untruth) · es piliar (tell an intentional untruth) · alu 'eno (tell an intentional untruth) · ms tipu (tell an intentional untruth) · ee ka aʋatso (tell an intentional untruth) · uk бреха́ти (tell an intentional untruth) · nb lyve (tell an intentional untruth) · ovd liuoga (tell an intentional untruth) · hu hazudik (tell an intentional untruth) · bo སྐྱག་རྫུན་བཤད (tell an intentional untruth) · pt mentir (tell an intentional untruth) · frr jooge (tell an intentional untruth) · om kijibuu (tell an intentional untruth) · be схлусі́ць (tell an intentional untruth) · ky жалган айтуу (tell an intentional untruth) · rup minciunedzu (tell an intentional untruth) · ms kelakar (Sarawak) (tell an intentional untruth) · izh klejata (tell an intentional untruth) · lt meluoti (tell an intentional untruth) · rue забрехати (tell an intentional untruth) · ug ئالىقاپلىق قىلماق (tell an intentional untruth) · pam maglaram (tell an intentional untruth) · ps درواغ ويل (tell an intentional untruth) · uz aldamoq (tell an intentional untruth) · tl magsinungaling (tell an intentional untruth) · km ភូត (tell an intentional untruth) · eo mensogi (tell an intentional untruth) · ang lēogan (tell an intentional untruth) · wa minti (tell an intentional untruth) · pl łgać (tell an intentional untruth) · it mentire (tell an intentional untruth) · kmr virr kirin (tell an intentional untruth) · sq gënjej (tell an intentional untruth) · ms bohong (tell an intentional untruth)
From Middle English lie, from Old English lyġe (“lie”), from Proto-Germanic *lugiz (“lie”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewgʰ- (“to announce, tell publicly”).
Cognates
Cognate with Saterland Frisian Löägene (“a lie”), Dutch leugen, logen, loogen (“a lie”), German Lug, Lüge, Lügen (“a lie”), German Low German Lögen (“a lie”), Luxembourgish Ligen (“a lie”), Yiddish ליגן (lign, “a lie”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål løgn (“a lie”), Icelandic lygi, lygn (“a lie”), Norwegian Nynorsk lygn, løgn (“a lie”), Swedish lögn (“a lie”); also Bulgarian лъжа́ (lăžá, “а lie”), Czech lež (“a lie”), Russian ложь (ložʹ, “а lie”), Polish łeż (“a lie”), Serbo-Croatian ла̑ж, laž (“a lie”), Slovak lož (“a lie”), Slovene lȃž (“a lie”).
Meanings
An intentionally false statement; an intentional falsehood.
I knew he was telling a lie by his facial expression.
Man everywhere is the born enemy of lies. 1840 May 5, Thomas Carlyle, “Lecture I. The Hero as Divinity. Odin. Paganism: Scandinavian Mythology.”, in On Heroes, Hero-Worship and The Heroic in History, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1840, →OCLC, page 4:
A statement intended to deceive, even if literally true.
(broadly) Anything that misleads or disappoints.
Wishing this lie of life was o'er. 1835, Richard Chenevix Trench, the Story of Justin Martyr:
The cake is a lie. 2007, Erik Wolpaw, Chet Faliszek, Portal:
(qualifier:African-American Vernacular, slang) A liar; a dishonest person.