In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
BELIE
misrepresent, belie
(verb) represent falsely; āThis statement misrepresents my intentionsā
contradict, belie, negate
(verb) be in contradiction with
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Verb
belie (third-person singular simple present belies, present participle belying, simple past belay, past participle belain)
(transitive, obsolete) To lie around; encompass.
(transitive, obsolete, of an army) To surround; beleaguer.
Etymology 2
Verb
belie (third-person singular simple present belies, present participle belying, simple past and past participle belied)
(transitive, archaic) To tell lies about. [from 13th c.]
Synonyms: slander, calumniate
(transitive) To give a false representation of. [from 17th c.]
Synonym: misrepresent
(transitive) To contradict, to show (something) to be false. [from 17th c.]
Synonyms: contradict, give lie to, give the lie to
(transitive, perhaps nonstandard) To conceal the contradictory or ironic presence of (something).
(transitive, perhaps nonstandard) To show, evince, demonstrate: to show (something) to be present, particularly something deemed contradictory or ironic.
(obsolete) To mimic; to counterfeit.
(transitive, obsolete) To fill with lies.
Anagrams
• Elbie
Source: Wiktionary
Be*lie", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belied; p. pr. & vb. n. Belying.] Etym: [OE. bilien, bili, AS. beleĆ³gan; pref. be- + leĆ³gan to lie. See Lie, n.]
1. To show to be false; to convict of, or charge with, falsehood. Their trembling hearts belie their boastful tongues. Dryden.
2. To give a false representation or account of. Should I do so, I should belie my thoughts. Shak.
3. To tell lie about; to calumniate; to slander. Thou dost belie him, Percy, thou dost belie him. Shak.
4. To mimic; to counterfeit. [Obs.] Dryden.
5. To fill with lies. [Obs.] "The breath of slander doth belie all corners of the world." Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Word of the Day
15 April 2025
DOOMED
(adjective) marked by or promising bad fortune; ātheir business venture was doomed from the startā; āan ill-fated business ventureā; āan ill-starred romanceā; āthe unlucky prisoner was again put in ironsā- W.H.Prescott
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