BELIE
What does "BELIE" mean?
To give a false impression of something, or to show a statement to be untrue.
Meanings
- To disguise or misrepresent the true nature of something. Her calm voice belied the panic she actually felt. formal
- To prove a claim or expectation false; to contradict. The strong sales figures belie the rumours of collapse. formal
Word origin
From Old English 'beleogan', to deceive with lies, from the prefix 'be-' plus 'leogan' (to lie, tell falsehood); the modern senses both circle the idea of a surface that lies about what's beneath.
Remember it
BELIE = 'BE a LIE' about something - a calm face that BE-LIEs the storm inside.
A little poem
The still pond's glass belies the churn below -
what holds its face most smoothly hides the most.
couplet
Wordplay
- Why is 'belie' a two-faced word? It can mean to hide the truth or to expose a falsehood - it lies about which one you meant.
What it teaches
A surface too composed is its own confession; perfect calm usually belies the cost of keeping it.
Quick facts
What does BELIE mean?
To give a false impression of something, or to show a statement to be untrue.
Is BELIE a valid word?
Yes — BELIE is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is BELIE?
BELIE has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does BELIE come from?
From Old English 'beleogan', to deceive with lies, from the prefix 'be-' plus 'leogan' (to lie, tell falsehood); the modern senses both circle the idea of a surface that lies about what's beneath.
What can BELIE teach us?
A surface too composed is its own confession; perfect calm usually belies the cost of keeping it.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.