lie

Etymology 1

From Middle English lien, liggen, from Old English liċġan, from Proto-West Germanic *liggjan, from Proto-Germanic *ligjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ-. Cognate with West Frisian lizze, Dutch liggen, German liegen, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål ligge, Swedish ligga, Icelandic, Faroese and Norwegian Nynorsk liggja, Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌲𐌰𐌽 (ligan); and with Latin lectus (“bed”), Irish luighe, Russian лежа́ть (ležátʹ), Albanian lag (“troop, band, encampment”). As a noun for position, the noun has the same etymology above as the verb.

verb

1. (intransitive) To rest in a horizontal position on a surface.
   The book lies on the table; the snow lies on the roof; he lies in his coffin
   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
   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
2. (intransitive) To be placed or situated.
   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. 2013-06-08, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52
3. (intransitive, copulative) To abide; to remain for a longer or shorter time; to be in a certain state or condition.
   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
   The paper does not lie smooth on the wall.
4. Used with in: to be or exist; to belong or pertain; to have an abiding place; to consist.
   Envy lies between beings equal in nature, though unequal in circumstances. c. 1690, Jeremy Collier, Of Envy
5. Used with with: to have sexual relations with.
6. Used with on/upon: to be incumbent (on); to be the responsibility of a person.
7. (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
8. To be still or quiet, like one lying down to rest.
9. (law) 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)

noun

1. (golf) The terrain and conditions surrounding the ball before it is struck.
2. (disc golf) The terrain and conditions surrounding the disc before it is thrown.
3. (medicine) The position of a fetus in the womb.
4. A manner of lying; relative position.
5. An animal's lair.

Etymology 2

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 lie, swear, bemoan”). Cognate with West Frisian lige (“to lie”), Low German legen, lögen (“to lie”), Dutch liegen (“to lie”), German lügen (“to lie”), Norwegian ljuge/lyge (“to lie”), Danish lyve (“to lie”), Swedish ljuga (“to lie”), and more distantly with Bulgarian лъжа (lǎža, “to lie”), Russian лгать (lgatʹ, “to lie”), ложь (ložʹ, “falsehood”).

verb

1. (intransitive) To give false information intentionally with intent to deceive.
   When Pinocchio lies, his nose grows.
   If you are found to have lied in court, you could face a penalty.
   While a principle-based approach might claim that lying is always morally wrong, the casuist would argue that, depending upon the details of the case, lying might or might not be illegal or unethical. The casuist might conclude that a person is wrong to lie in legal testimony under oath, but might argue that lying actually is the best moral choice if the lie saves a life.
2. (intransitive) To convey a false image or impression.
   Photographs often lie.
3. (intransitive, colloquial) 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.

Etymology 3

From Middle English lie, from Old English lyġe (“lie, falsehood”), from Proto-Germanic *lugiz (“lie, falsehood”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewgʰ- (“to tell lies, swear, complain”). Cognate with Old Saxon luggi (“a lie”), Old High German lugī, lugin (“a lie”) (German Lüge), Danish løgn (“a lie”), Bulgarian лъжа́ (lǎžá, “а lie”), Russian ложь (ložʹ, “а lie”).

noun

1. An intentionally false statement; an intentional falsehood.
   I knew he was telling a lie by his facial expression.
2. A statement intended to deceive, even if literally true.
3. (by extension) 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