belie (2009-04-10)

Part of Speech: verb

Pronunciation: [bê-'LI]

Definition: To show to be false, contradict, to misrepresent, to give a false impression of. This verb is only rarely used to mean "to lie about" today.

Usage: Even though it is based on "lie," today's word is seldom used pejoratively, "The beads of sweat on his forehead belied the calmness in his voice." Rather, it simply points to a contradiction between what appears to be the case and actuality, "The grace and serenity of her bearing belied the hours of labor Natalie Cladd had put into dressing, applying her make-up, and styling her wig."

Suggested Usage: The forms of this word do reflect a variation in spelling—the present participle is "belying." There is an archaic noun, "belier," used in the sense of "a liar."

Etymology: Today's word shares an origin with lie "to speak falsely." It is from Old English belēogan from be- "about" + lēogan "to lie." In Russian the same root gave lozh "a lie" and lgat' "to lie," in German it produced lügen "to lie" and, in Swedish, ljuga "to lie," Of course, male witches are known to lie when it suits them. They are called "warlocks." This word comes from Old English wærloga "oath-breaker" (literally, oath-liar) from wær "pledge, oath" + loga "liar," from the same root as today's word.