lie

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   assume a reclining position

   lie down on the bed until you feel better

2. 2
   verb

   have a place in relation to something else

   The fate of Bosnia lies in the hands of the West

3. 3
   verb

   be and remain in a particular state or condition

   lie dormant

4. 4
   verb

   To rest in a horizontal position on a surface.

   The book lies on the table; the snow lies on the roof; he lies in his coffin.

5. 5
   verb

   To be placed or situated.

   Ying-yang county lies 70 li southwest of the modern Teng-feng county, Honan.

6. 6
   verb

   To abide; to remain for a longer or shorter time; to be in a certain state or condition.

   to lie waste; to lie fallow; to lie open; to lie hidden; to lie grieving; to lie under one's displeasure; to lie at the mercy of the waves

7. 7
   verb

   Used with in: to be or exist; to belong or pertain; to have an abiding place; to consist.

   Envy lies between beings equal in nature, though unequal in circumstances.

8. 8
   verb

   Used with with: to have sexual relations with.

   And it came to passe after these things, that his masters wife cast her eyes vpon Ioseph, and shee said, Lie with me.

Etymology

From Middle English lien, liggen, from Old English liċġan, from Proto-West Germanic *liggjan, from Proto-Germanic *ligjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ-. Cognates Cognate with Yola lee, lidge (“to lie”), leigh, leiough (“to idle”), North Frisian lade, lai, laie, lei, lii, läde, läie (“to lie; to lay”), Saterland Frisian lääse (“to lie; to lay”), West Frisian lizze (“to lie”), Alemannic German ligge (“to lie”), Central Franconian lijje (“to lie”), Dutch and Dutch Low Saxon liggen (“to lie”), German liegen (“to lie”), German Low German ligge, liggen (“to lie”), Luxembourgish leien (“to lie”),…