transitive verb
also be·ly bə̇ˈlī, bē-
( belied ; belied ; belying ; belies )
Etymology: Middle English belien, from Old English belēogan, from be- + lēogan to lie — more at lie
1. archaic : to tell lies about : defame by lies
belie a person shamefully
2. obsolete : to deny the authority, presence, or validity of : reject
3.
a. : to give a false impression of
the rasping and combative voice … which belied him because he was really friendly and good-humored — J.J.Mallon
b.
(1) : to stand in contrast to
a hard pair of eyes that belied his unmanly, almost effeminate face — Barnaby Conrad
(2) : to present an appearance that is not in agreement with
the imperturbable gentlemen … nearly all belie their origins — Bill Wolf
4.
a. : to prove false
the event has belied this reasoning — Walter Moberly
b. : to run counter to : contradict
at first sight Home Term Court … appeared to belie all the rosy things I had heard about it — Katherine T. Kinkead
5. : to cover up : hide , disguise
an air of rural charm … belies the community's industrial activity — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
Synonyms: see misrepresent