lie

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To be or move into a flat, resting position on a surface.

   Lie down on the bed until you feel better.

2. 2
   verb

   To rest flat on a surface.

   The book lies on the table where I left it.

3. 3
   verb

   To be located or situated in a particular place.

   The village lies in a valley between two hills.

4. 4
   verb

   To exist in or be the result of something.

   The answer lies in better communication.

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”),…

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