† believ.1
Obsolete.
1.
a. transitive. To surround, encompass.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surrounding > surround or lie around [verb (transitive)]
befong971
beclipc1000
begoc1000
belieOE
bestandc1000
to go about ——OE
umbegangc1200
behema1250
befallc1275
berunc1275
girdc1290
bihalvena1300
umlapa1300
umlaya1300
umlouka1300
umbegoc1300
belayc1320
halsea1340
enclose1340
umbelapa1350
embracec1360
betrendc1374
circlec1374
umbecasta1375
to give about1382
environa1393
umbeclipa1395
compassa1400
encircle?a1400
enourle?a1400
umbegivea1400
umbeseta1400
umbeliec1400
umbetighc1400
enroundc1420
measurec1425
umbsteadc1450
adviron?1473
purprise1481
umbeviron1489
belta1500
girtha1500
overgirda1500
engirt15..
envirea1513
round?a1513
brace1513
umbereach1513
becompass1520
circuea1533
girtc1540
umbsetc1540
circule1553
encompass1555
circulate?a1560
ingyre1568
to do about1571
engird1573
circumdate1578
succinge1578
employ1579
circuate1581
girdle1582
wheel1582
circumgyre1583
enring1589
ringa1592
embail1593
enfold1596
invier1596
stem1596
circumcingle1599
ingert1599
engirdle1602
circulize1603
circumscribe1605
begirt1608
to go round1610
enwheela1616
surround1616
shingle1621
encirculize1624
circumviron1632
beround1643
orba1644
circumference1646
becircle1648
incircuitc1650
circumcinge1657
circumtend1684
besiege1686
cincture1789
zone1795
cravat1814
encincture1820
circumvent1824
begirdle1837
perambulate1863
cordon1891
OE Genesis A (1931) 229 Seo æftre [ea] Ethiopia land and liodgeard beligeð uton.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iii. l. 3285 (MED) Dymmed with skies foule..with tempest al be-leyn.
1627 T. May tr. Lucan Pharsalia (1631) iii. 219 From Pholoe Beely'd with Centaures.
b. transitive. spec. To surround with an army, besiege, beleaguer.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > attack > action or state of siege or blockade > besiege or blockade [verb (transitive)]
belieOE
besita1100
beset?c1225
assiege1297
besiege1297
belayc1320
umsiegea1325
ensiegec1380
environa1382
to set before1382
siege1390
forset?a1400
foldc1400
setc1400
to lay siege to, unto, about, against, beforec1449
oppugn?a1475
pursue1488
obsess1503
ferma1522
gird1548
begird1589
beleaguer1590
block1591
invest1591
intermure1606
blockade1684
to lay blockade to1713
leaguer1720
to form the siege1776
cerne1857
OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Josh. (Claud.) vii. 9 Ealle ðas landleoda belicgað us mid fyrde & urne naman adylegiað.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 51 (MED) He gederede michel ferde..and bilai þe burh.
c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 5368 He was bilayn in þat cite.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 4483 Now haþ þe A[meral] by-leyn hem þer.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iii. l. 1782 (MED) Priamus so sore hath hem be-leyn On euery half.
a1525 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Trin. Dublin) (1896) 104 (MED) Obreen..was belyggynge lymeryke with ful grete hostes.
a1639 J. Spottiswood Hist. Church Scotl. (1655) v. 259 Lord Claud Hamilton belyed Paslay.
2.
a. intransitive. With to. To lie near, be close to. Chiefly figurative: to relate or belong to, be concerned with. Also transitive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > owning > belong [verb (intransitive)]
limp858
longlOE
belielOE
fallc1175
rine?c1225
belongc1330
pertaina1382
bec1384
appertain1416
cohere1634
the world > space > distance > nearness > be near [verb (intransitive)]
belielOE
anear1582
neighbour1592
the world > relative properties > relationship > relevance or pertinence > [verb (intransitive)]
belimpOE
beholda1067
belielOE
pertaina1325
pendc1330
appendc1386
appertainc1386
holdc1430
pretenda1470
recorda1500
depend1525
extenda1533
inherea1628
to make to ——1645
apply1741
lOE Writ of Edward the Confessor, Winchester (Sawyer 1154) in F. E. Harmer Anglo-Saxon Writs (1952) 400 Ic cyþe eow þæt ic hebbe bicweðen Portland & eall þæt ðerto bilyð in to Gealden Mynstre on Wyncheastre.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 61 (MED) Þo forsinegede men, þe habbeð þo sinnes don þe biliggeð to here shrifte.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 15 Þe six werkes of þesternesse þe biliȝe to nihte.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 147 Þerto [sc. to Cappadocia] be-lyeþ [L. subjacet] Cilicia.
a1500 Ratis Raving (Cambr. Kk.1.5) l. 134 in R. Girvan Ratis Raving & Other Early Scots Poems (1939) 4 Infortone thar next belys.
1522 Worlde & Chylde (de Worde) (1909) sig. B.iiv Coueyte..no good that hym be lythe.
b. intransitive. To be proper or appropriate to, esp. as a duty or responsibility; to be applicable. Also impersonal: it is proper or requisite.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > be suitable, appropriate, or suit [verb (intransitive)] > be fitting or proper
i-burec1000
shallc1000
belongOE
becomec1175
fallc1175
beliea1225
ferea1300
longc1350
beseemc1384
pertainc1384
it is worthy thata1398
accordc1400
foldc1400
affeir1415
fit1574
suit?1591
sort1595
a1225 ( Rule St. Benet (Winteney) (1888) lv. 111 Ðeos foresceawung belið to þære abbodesse [L. penes abbatissam est; OE Corpus Cambr. ðæs abbodes foresceawunge sceal beon be þysum].
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 8713 (MED) He..was icrouned king..Of þe bissop of londone, as to him bilay.
a1400 in K. W. Engeroff Untersuchung ‘Usages of Winchester’ (1914) 50 Also twey coroners by-lyþ þat þer be in Wynchestre.
a1400 in K. W. Engeroff Untersuchung ‘Usages of Winchester’ (1914) 70 (MED) Chese, botere..and smere, þare þe kynges wyȝte by-lyþ shal nyme as meche of þe halue peyse as of þe hole wyȝte.
a1400 in K. W. Engeroff Untersuchung ‘Usages of Winchester’ (1914) 84 (MED) Þere þat a-tachement ne by-lyth nouȝt.
3. transitive. To have sexual intercourse with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] > have sexual intercourse with
mingeOE
haveOE
knowc1175
ofliec1275
to lie with (or by)a1300
knowledgec1300
meetc1330
beliea1350
yknowc1350
touchc1384
deala1387
dightc1386
usea1387
takec1390
commona1400
to meet witha1400
servea1400
occupy?a1475
engender1483
jangle1488
to be busy with1525
to come in1530
visitc1540
niggle1567
mow1568
to mix one's thigh with1593
do1594
grind1598
pepper1600
yark1600
tumble1603
to taste of1607
compressc1611
jumble1611
mix?1614
consort?1615
tastea1616
bumfiddle1630
ingressa1631
sheet1637
carnal1643
night-work1654
bump1669
bumble1680
frig?c1680
fuck1707
stick1707
screw1719
soil1722
to do over1730
shag1770
hump1785
subagitatec1830
diddle1879
to give (someone) onec1882
charver1889
fuckeec1890
plugc1890
dick1892
to make a baby1911
to know (a person) in the biblical sense1912
jazz1920
rock1922
yentz1924
roll1926
to make love1927
shtupa1934
to give (or get) a tumble1934
shack1935
bang1937
to have it off1937
rump1937
tom1949
to hop into bed (with)1951
ball1955
to make it1957
plank1958
score1960
naughty1961
pull1965
pleasurea1967
to have away1968
to have off1968
dork1970
shaft1970
bonk1975
knob1984
boink1985
fand-
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 45 (MED) When þe ledy liht byleyn, ant lyueþ by þat he lahte.
a1450 Quixley's Ballades in Yorks. Archæol. Jrnl. (1909) 20 45 (MED) Tarquinius..be force of his luxure Chaste Lucresse..bylay.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xxxii. 432 I slew my father, and syn bylay My moder.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
believ.2
/bᵻˈlʌɪ/, U.S. /bəˈlaɪ/, /biˈlaɪ/ I. Established senses.† 4. transitive. To assert or allege falsely, or with a lie. Obsolete.† 6. transitive. To reject the truth or integrity of implicitly; to treat (a thing) as false by acting at variance with it; to be false or faithless to. Obsolete.
1. transitive. To deceive by lying, tell a lie to. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > deceive [verb (transitive)]
aschrenchc885
blendc888
swikec950
belirtOE
beswike971
blencha1000
blenka1000
belieOE
becatchc1175
trokec1175
beguile?c1225
biwrench?c1225
guile?c1225
trechec1230
unordainc1300
blink1303
deceivec1320
feintc1330
trechetc1330
misusea1382
blind1382
forgo1382
beglose1393
troil1393
turnc1405
lirt?a1425
abuse?a1439
ludify1447
amuse1480
wilec1480
trump1487
delude?a1505
sile1508
betrumpa1522
blear1530
aveugle1543
mislippen1552
pot1560
disglose1565
oversile1568
blaze1570
blirre1570
bleck1573
overtake1581
fail1590
bafflea1592
blanch1592
geck?a1600
hallucinate1604
hoodwink1610
intrigue1612
guggle1617
nigglea1625
nose-wipe1628
cog1629
cheat1637
flam1637
nurse1639
jilt1660
top1663
chaldese1664
bilk1672
bejuggle1680
nuzzlec1680
snub1694
bite1709
nebus1712
fugle1719
to take in1740
have?1780
quirk1791
rum1812
rattlesnake1818
chicane1835
to suck in1842
mogue1854
blinker1865
to have on1867
mag1869
sleight1876
bumfuzzle1878
swop1890
wool1890
spruce1917
jive1928
shit1934
smokescreen1950
dick1964
OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) i. iv. 40 Forþon þe we men syndon & beoþ ful oft belogene [L. fallimur] fram oþrum mannum.
1799 C. Ludger tr. A. von Kotzebue Reconciliation ii. vii. 54 God have mercy on thee, fellow, if thou has belied me.
1912 J. P. Reid Skipper's Daughters 110 I wadna belie you. It's the truth I'm tellin'.
2. transitive. To tell lies about; esp. to slander or libel, to calumniate. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > slander or calumniate [verb (transitive)]
to say or speak shame of, on, byc950
teleeOE
sayOE
to speak evil (Old English be) ofc1000
belie?c1225
betell?c1225
missayc1225
skandera1300
disclanderc1300
wrenchc1300
bewrayc1330
bite1330
gothele1340
slanderc1340
deprave1362
hinderc1375
backbite1382
blasphemec1386
afamec1390
fame1393
to blow up?a1400
defamea1400
noise1425
to say well (also evil, ill, etc.) of (also by)1445
malignc1450
to speak villainy of1470
infame1483
injury1484
painta1522
malicea1526
denigrate1526
disfamea1533
misreporta1535
sugill?1539
dishonest?c1550
calumniate1554
scandalize1566
ill1577
blaze1579
traduce1581
misspeak1582
blot1583
abuse1592
wronga1596
infamonize1598
vilify1598
injure?a1600
forspeak1601
libel1602
infamize1605
belibel1606
calumnize1606
besquirt1611
colly1615
scandala1616
bedirt1622
soil1641
disfigurea1643
sycophant1642
spatter1645
sugillate1647
bespattera1652
bedung1655
asperse1656
mischieve1656
opprobriatea1657
reflect1661
dehonestate1663
carbonify1792
defamate1810
mouth1810
foul-mouth1822
lynch1836
rot1890
calumny1895
ding1903
bad-talk1938
norate1938
bad-mouth1941
monster1967
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 55 Þe treowe is ofte mis trouwed. & þe sakelese biloȝen. for wane of witnesse.
c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 81 (MED) Wytnesses false and fele By-lowen hyne for hate.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. ii. l. 22 Mede..hath..ylakked my lemman..And bilowen hire to lordes.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. v. l. 414 I haue leuere..lesynges to laughe at and belye my neighbore.
1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 90 He belyeth me falsely.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 490 Wherein you doe unhonestlye slaunder him and belye him, without cause.
1620 Bp. J. Hall Honor Married Clergie iii. iii. 269 Where is the shame of this Romane Priest, whiles he so manifestly belies our holy, reuerend, worthy Master Foxe?
1667 S. Pepys Diary 26 June (1974) VIII. 294 Saying that he had belied him to our King.
1730 M. Tindal Christianity as Old as Creation I. xi. 161 The Consequence of belying the followers of Wickliff, was the Statute de Hæretico comburendo.
1763 D. Hume Hist. Eng. (new ed.) VII. lxiv. 448 It was rendered criminal to belie the subjects to the king, or create in him an ill opinion of them.
1766 D. Hume Let. 26 June (1932) II. 56 I shall charitably suppose, that some infamous Calumniator has belyed me to you.
1798 M. Edgeworth & R. L. Edgeworth Pract. Educ. I. 209 They have belied me that went behind my back to tell your honour the contrary.
1827 G. M'Caul Philos. Mind & Matter vi. 155 If he belied you when you were alive, he will not shrink from doing so when you are silent; as he will be the more sure of doing it with impunity, for fear often restrains defamers.
1904 Harper's Mag. Feb. 398/2 I had rather an enemy should bury me quick than a friend belie me when I am dead.
3. † a. transitive. to belie the truth: to misrepresent or pervert the truth. Obsolete.† d. transitive. To assume falsely the character of; to counterfeit. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lie, tell (lies) [verb (transitive)]
lie1377
forgec1386
to belie the truthc1400
tellc1400
to tell (formerly to make) a liec1400
sayc1460
to face (a person) with a lie1530
cog1570
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. x. l. 22 Þei lede lordes with lesynges and bilyeth treuthe.
1528 W. Tyndale Obed. Christen Man f. xxi What stereth them so furiously to rage and to belye the trueth.
1565 J. Rastell Replie Def. Truth sig. †v Let no protestant belie the truthe.
a1634 W. Austin Devotionis Augustinianæ Flamma (1635) 123 The Judge of Heaven is judg'd; the Truth be-lide.
1664 J. Aynsloe Besome of Truth 5 He, with many more which I might mention of his Brotherhood, makes it their work to bely the Truth.
1727 Christianity & Free-thinking 118 A Man has Honesty enough to stand it out..rather than belie the Truth.
1794 J. Haggitt Count de Villeroi i. ii. 61 No, I will not so belie the truth.
b. transitive. To give a false representation or account of, to misrepresent; to be misleading with regard to. Also: to be at variance or incompatible with. †Also intransitive (obsolete. rare).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > misrepresentation > misrepresent [verb (transitive)]
disguise1398
colourc1400
abuse?a1439
wrest1524
beliec1531
to spell (one) backward1600
misuse1609
bowa1616
falsify1630
misrepresent1633
traduce1643
garble1659
miscolour1661
misrender1674
travesty1825
misdescribe1827
skew1872
misportray1925
c1531 G. Joye Lett. Ashwell to Lyncolne sig. Bv Thus is the..swete gospel of Christe belyed shamefully and blasphemed.
1582 W. Allen Briefe Hist. Glorious Martyrdom sig. e7v I wil not belie my self, for so should I condemne my owne soule.
1600 W. Cornwallis Ess. I. xxii. sig. M6 It is a straunge thing how men bely themselues: euery one speakes well, and meanes naughtily.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης xv. 143 He a declar'd Papist, if his own Letter to the Pope..bely him not.
1709 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 21 Aug. (1965) I. 10 I know not..how much my face may belie my heart.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones III. x. viii. 45 Echo seemed so pleased to repeat the beloved Sound, that if there is really such a Person, I believe Ovid hath belied her Sex.
1751 E. Haywood Hist. Betsy Thoughtless III. xxii. 276 She thought she saw something so gay and sparkling in the eyes of mr. Trueworth, as denoted his mourning habit belied his heart.
1814 Ld. Byron Lara i. xxi. 398 His brow belied him if his soul was sad.
1851 C. Kingsley Yeast xv You are an Englishman..unless your physiognomy belies you.
1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems x. 16 They grow quantities, if report belies not.
c1921 D. H. Lawrence Mod. Lover (1934) 195 His reputation as a spoon would not belie him. He had lovely lips for kissing.
1933 E. Waugh Let. 1 Jan. (1980) 68 The Governor..is a man prematurely aged whose unhinged mind belies his venerable white beard.
1966 C. Achebe Man of People iii. 39 The Minister sprang at him with an agility which completely belied his size and condition.
2003 U.S. News & World Rep. 21 July 40/3 While that's technically true, it really belies the real situation.
2009 Nat. Hist. Mag. 118 31 No, they are mammals—African hyraxes—whose low metabolic rate and varying body temperature belie their mammalian heritage.
c. transitive. To disguise (a person or thing); to conceal the true character or identity of; to conceal the fact of. Chiefly literary.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > means of concealment > conceal by disguise [verb (transitive)]
beclout?c1225
disguisea1375
veilc1384
dissimule1485
counterfeit1490
dissemble?1507
guisea1510
wry1567
discountenance1574
conceal1598
belie1610
dislikena1616
obvolve1623
transvest1649
travesty1665
mask1847
camouflage1917
1610 G. Fletcher Christs Victorie 35 A painted face, belied with vermeyl store.
1634 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. Hist. New Test. (STC 12640.7) i. 435 If we had been on the Scaffold to see a man challenging the dogs in the disguise of a Bears-hide, would we have said, Now two beasts are fighting? The Shape therefore may well belie the Substance.
1697 J. Dryden Alexander's Feast ii. 2 A Dragon's fiery Form bely'd the God: Sublime on Radiant Spires He rode.
1725 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. iv. 618 A Boar's obscener shape the God belies.
1730 A. Pope Temple of Fame in Wks. III. 154 His horn'd head bely'd the Libian God.
1759 J. Fortescue Diss., Ess. & Disc. I. xxiii Flow'ry deceit, and dark-designing fraud; Hypocrisy, with cherub-face belied, Mask'd hatred, quer'lous strife, and envy rude.
1810 A. Cunningham et al. Remains Nithsdale & Galloway Song 280 To belie the form of God in the unholy semblance of cats.
1863 M. Oliphant Rector & Doctor's Family viii. 146 in Chrons. Carlingford Spring had begun to show faintly in the lengthening days—spring, that so often belies itself, and comes with a serpent's tooth.
1970 L. Deighton Bomber (1972) xi. 151 The grimy condition of the coasters was belied by the fresh rain that had glossed their decks and given their hulls the polish of old jackboots.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > pretend, simulate, feign [verb (transitive)] > lay claim to, personate
counterfeitc1290
colour1419
personate1604
affecta1616
belie1616
sham1699
assume1714
personify1779
1616 B. Jonson Challenge at Tilt in Wks. I. 998 Art thou still so impudent, to belie my figure? that in what shape soeuer, I present my selfe, thou wilt seeme to be the same?
1660 J. Dryden Astræa Redux 11 Durst with horses hoofs that beat the ground And Martial brass bely the thunders sound.
1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Ceyx & Alcyone in Fables 373 Morpheus..express'd The Shape of Man, and imitated best; The Walk, the Words, the Gesture cou'd supply, The Habit mimick, and the Mien bely.
1744 J. Thomson Spring in Seasons (new ed.) 43 The modest-seeming Eye, Beneath whose beauteous Beams, belying heaven, Lurk searchless Cunning, Cruelty, and Death.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > false assertion > assert falsely [verb (transitive)]
feigna1300
liea1300
pretend1395
belie1561
misallege1566
pretence1567
perjurea1586
soothe1591
falsify1606
mislaya1626
misaffirma1631
1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger Hundred Serm. vpon Apocalips xli. 269 He..belied him self to be the prophet of God.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 110 b Whiche..is most falsely belyed upon him.
1659 J. Milton Considerations touching Hirelings 66 To bely divine autoritie, to make the name of Christ accessory to violence.
5. transitive. To call false, contradict as a lie or a liar; to deny the truth or truthfulness of. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > denial or contradiction > deny or contradict [verb (transitive)]
withquethec888
withsake971
falsea1225
withsay?c1225
denyc1300
again-saya1382
naitc1390
nitec1390
naya1400
nicka1400
warna1400
denytec1420
traversea1450
repugnc1456
unsayc1460
renay1512
disavow?1532
disaffirm1548
contradict1582
fault1585
belie1587
infringe1590
dementie1594
abnegate1616
negate1623
nege1624
abrenounce1656
nay-saya1774
negative1784
dement1884
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. 1158/2 This that I haue said, I will..stand vnto, for I will neuer beelie my selfe.
1611 Bible (King James) Jer. v. 12 They haue belyed the Lord, and said; It is not he. View more context for this quotation
1626 T. Hawkins tr. N. Caussin Holy Court I. i. 21 I will not be-lye the law of my Maister.
1649 tr. Alcoran 45 If they bely thee, know, they belyed the Prophets that were before thee.
1683 J. Oldham Poems & Transl. 172 Commend her Beauty, and bely her Glass, By which she every morning primes her Face.
1841 G. Borrow Zincali I. ii. viii. 352 They..never failed to contradict themselves, by permitting some expression to escape which belied their assertions.
1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 169 The admission of that, he replied, would belie our former admissions.
1910 New Schaff-Herzog Encycl. Relig. Knowl. VI. 475/2 That he [sc. Pope Liberius] directly belied his earlier position can be asserted only on the ground of doubtful documents.
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1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor Dram. Pers. sig. Aiiiv Fastidius Briske..cares not what Ladies fauor he belies.
?1608 S. Lennard tr. P. Charron Of Wisdome i. v. 20 They that belie their owne physiognomie, are rather to be punished than others, because they..deceiue the world.
1698 J. Norris Pract. Disc. Divine Subj. IV. 27 If a Man..does not appear to bely his Discourse by his Practice.
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 356 Who in his last acts does not wish to belye the tenour of his life. View more context for this quotation
1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab iv. 56 Those who dare belie Their human nature.
1868 M. E. Grant Duff Polit. Surv. 196 Her life as a nation will not belie her great gifts as a country.
1868 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) II. viii. 207 But..he grossly belied his faith.
7. transitive. To show to be false, prove false or mistaken; to fail to fulfil (expectations, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > contrary evidence > contradict, go against [verb (transitive)]
traverse1491
to make against ——a1540
contradict1593
to give the lie (to)1593
dementie1594
belie1624
militate1642
contravenea1670
disconfirm1827
contra-indicate1880
1624 R. Montagu Gagg for New Gospell? xxv. 201 Iacob saith, Gen. 48. 16. The Angell which redeemed mee (you read, deliuereth mee) from all euill, blesse these Lads: where, first, you bely your owne reading.
1685 tr. B. Gracián y Morales Courtiers Oracle 7 It is the victory of an able man to correct, or at least bely the censure.
1703 J. Gordon Char. Generous Prince 252 Probus..did not belie his name, being a very good Man.
1781 W. Cowper Retirem. 714 Novels..Belie their name, and offer nothing new.
1833 H. Martineau Tale of Tyne iii. 53 There was..a quaver of the voice which belied what he said.
1857 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. I. vi. 296 The subsequent actions of Arthur did not belie his supernatural origin.
1893 Jrnl. Royal Statist. Soc. 56 341 The postulate of free will and moral responsibility assumed by the classical school is belied by physio-psychology.
1901 Calcutta Rev. July 142 Lord Northcote..has not belied expectations, and further, has won the esteem, and even the affection of Bombay.
1961 Daily Herald (Chicago) 20 Apr. 1/5 The record turnout belied theories that the citizenry would suffer from election fatigue and neglect the polls after township and school elections.
2002 K. Matinuddin Nuclearization S. Asia vi. 124 This was only a smoke screen as the facts belie the assertion.
8. transitive. Perhaps: to spread lies around or throughout. Obsolete. rare. N.E.D. (1887) defines as ‘Perhaps: to fill with lies’, following Johnson's Dictionary from the 4th, Dublin, edition (1775) onwards, and this interpretation has been reproduced by most later editors of Shakespeare. Earlier editions of Johnson cited this passage as an example of the sense ‘to calumniate’. However it makes a distant but clear allusion to Virgil’s Fama in Aeneid 4.173–88, who spreads calumnies around all corners of the world rather than calumniating them.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lie, tell (lies) [verb (transitive)] > fill with lies
beliea1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) iii. iv. 36 'Tis Slander..whose breath Rides on the posting windes, and doth belye All corners of the World. View more context for this quotation
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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