lying

UK: ˈlaɪ.ɪŋ | US: ˈlaɪ.ɪŋ

Definition

  1. v. (present participle of lie) meaning 1: to intentionally say something false

  2. v. (present participle of lie) meaning 2: to be in or assume a horizontal position

Structure
lie <false statement/to recline>ing <present participle suffix>
Etymology

The word lying is the present participle of lie, which has two distinct origins:

  1. Lie (false statement): From Old English leġan (to deceive), related to Old Norse ljúga. The root lie- retains its core meaning of deception.
  2. Lie (to recline): From Old English liċġan (to rest horizontally), related to German liegen. The root lie- here denotes physical positioning.
    The suffix -ing marks the present participle form in both cases. Despite identical spelling, the two lie roots diverged early in Germanic languages, creating a modern homograph.
Examples

  1. She was caught lying about her qualifications.

  2. The cat is lying lazily in the sun.

  3. His habit of lying made him untrustworthy.

  4. The books were lying scattered on the floor.

  5. Politicians often face accusations of lying to the public.