Belie Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐คฅ
belie
[bษชหlaษช ]
Definition
to contradict
To belie something means to show it to be false or to contradict it. When a statement belies facts or reality, it suggests that the opposite of what is claimed is actually true.
Synonyms
contradict, disprove, misrepresent, refute.
Examples of usage
- Her calm demeanor belies the anxiety she feels inside.
- The evidence belies his claims of innocence.
- His smile belies the pain he has endured.
- The statistics belied the common belief about the population.
- His actions belied his words.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Literature
- The term often appears in literature to describe characters whose actions contradict their claims.
- Famous authors like Shakespeare used the concept of belied emotions to create dramatic irony.
Psychology
- People often 'belie' their true feelings through body language, which can indicate hidden emotions.
- Cognitive dissonance can make individuals' beliefs and actions 'belie' each other, causing internal conflict.
Pop Culture
- In movies and music, characters or lyrics may belied emotions to add depth and complexity.
- Television shows frequently explore themes of betrayal where actions belied trust.
Philosophy
- Philosophers discuss how appearances can belied reality, prompting questions on the nature of truth.
- The concept challenges individuals to look beyond surface truths to understand deeper realities.
Origin of 'belie'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from Old English 'be-lฤซgan', meaning 'to deceive or lie about'.
- Originally, it meant to lie about something physically, like hiding the truth behind an appearance.
The word 'belie' has its roots in Old English, deriving from the word 'belฤgan,' which means 'to lie' or 'to lie down.' Its use in the sense of contradicting or showing something to be false began in the late Middle Ages. The prefix 'be-' is a common element in English that often denotes 'about' or 'around,' while the Old English root 'lฤgan' translates to 'to lie.' Over time, the meaning evolved to signify a state where one thing reveals the truth about another, especially when it involves deception or contradiction. The term has remained relatively stable in its meaning since it entered the English lexicon and is still widely used in both literary and everyday contexts.