belie

views updated May 17 2018

be·lie / biˈlī/ • v. (-ly·ing) [tr.] 1. (of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict: his lively alert manner belied his years.2. fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray: the notebooks belie Darwin's later recollection.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

belie

views updated Jun 08 2018

belie OE. belēogan = OHG. biliugan, f. BE- + LIE2.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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