n.
Function: verb
Inflected Form: lied ; ly · ing \ ' l ī -i ŋ \
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English l ē ogan; akin to Old High German liogan to lie, Old Church Slavic l ŭ gati
Date: before 12th century
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>
synonyms 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>.