Lie
/laɪ/noun
To say something that is not true with the intention to deceive.
Did you know?In ancient times, the act of lying was often associated with witchcraft and manipulation, as words were believed to hold powerful, magical properties.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leig-
“to lie down, be inactive or rest”
Old English
Old English
leogan
“to tell a falsehood, to lie”
Middle English
Middle English
leyen
“to deceive or mislead”
15th Century
English
lie
“to make a false statement or to deceive intentionally”
Modern English
English
lie
“to assert something untrue, often for personal gain or to mislead”