Forms and inflexions: see below. [A Com. Teut. str. vb.: OE. licgan = OFris. liga, lidsa, lidzia, OS. liggian (Du., LG. liggen), OHG. and MHG. liggen, licken, ligen (mod.G. liegen), ON. liggia (Sw. ligga, Da. ligge), Goth. ligan:—OTeut. *ligjan (the Goth. ligan is abnormal), f. Teut. root *leg- (: lag- : lǣg-):—West Aryan *legh- (: logh- : lēgh-) to lie; cf. Gr. λέχος bed, ἄλοχος bedfellow, wife, λόχος lying in wait, ambush, L. lectus bed, OSl. ležati to lie.
As in OTeut. *sitjan SIT v., the present-stem has a j suffix, though the pa. t. and pa. pple. are strong. In WGer. and consequently in OE., the pres.-stem has two forms, due to the diversity in the phonetic character of the flexional suffixes: (1) The WGer. lig-, OE. liʓ-, appears in the 2nd and 3rd pers. sing. pres. ind. and the sing. imp., and is the source of the mod.Eng. lie; (2) the WGer. ligg-, OE. licʓ-, appears in the inf., the 1st pers. sing. and the pl. pres. ind., the pres. subj., and the pl. imp.; it is represented in mod. northern dialects by lig; the southern lidge has been found only in the Wexford dialect, though the ME. ligge in southern texts can only represent the pronunciation (lidʓə).]
A. Inflexional Forms.
1. Infinitive lie. Forms: α. 1 licgan, licgean, Northumb. licga, 2 liggan, 2–5 ligge-n, 3 ligen, luggen (ü), 4–5 lyge, lygge, 4–6 (7–9 dial.) lig, ligg, 5 ligyn, lyggyn, lyg, lyegge. β. 2 lien, 3 liʓen, 3 lin, 4 lii, lij, li, lyen, (? erron. ley-n, leȝe, lai), 4–5 lyn(e, lyȝe, 4–8 ly, 4–9 lye, 5 liyn, lyyn, lyin, 4– lie.
α. Beowulf, 3082 (Gr.). Lete hyne licgean, þær he longe wæs.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., John v. 6. Þa se hælend ʓe-seah þisne liggan.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 79. Ho … letten hine liggen half quic.
c. 1205. Lay., 22836. Þer he scal liggen [c. 1275 luggen].
a. 1275. Prov. Ælfred, 467, in O. E. Misc., 131. He sal ligen long anicht.
a. 1275. Death, 118 Ibid., 174. Nu þu schalt wrecche liggen ful stille.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3169. He bad him ligge and slepe wel.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5309. I will me lig to dei.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter v. 4. I sall noght lige in fleschy lustis.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxv. 118. Whare þe emperour schall ligg on þe morue.
1425. Ord. Whittington’s Alms-house, in Entick, London (1766), IV. 354. A … little house … in which he shall lyegge and rest.
c. 1440. [see β].
1483. Cath. Angl., 216/1. To Lyg in wayte.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Sept., 254. There mayst thou ligge in a vetchy bed.
1651. Randolph, etc. Hey for Honesty, III. i. Wks. (1875), 431. Liggen in strommel.
a. 1652. Brome, Eng. Moor, I. iii. Wks. (1873), II. 13. Make thy bed fine and soft I’le lig with thee.
1674. Ray, N. C. Words, 30. To Lig: to lye, Var. Dial.
β. 1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1137 (Laud MS.). He ne myhte … ne sitten ne lien ne slepen.
c. 1200. Ormin, 6020. & nile he nohht tærinne lin.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3778 (Cott.). He … þar-on laid his hefd to li [Fairf. ly].
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, vii. (Jacobus minor), 482. & þare wele foure dais can þai ley but met & drink.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. xi. 6. The parde with the kide shal leyn.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 68. I lete it lie still.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 13554. Lat hym lyn a whyle stylle.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 304/2. Lyyn or lyggyn (K. lyin or ligyn), jaceo.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxlii. 277. They … charged hym to lye still.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ix. II. 446. He might lie many years in a prison.
2. Indicative Present.
a. 1st pers. sing. lie. Forms: α. 1 licge, 3–4 ligge, 4–6 (7–9 dial.) lig, 5 lige. β. 4 liy, 4–9 lye, 6 ly, 4– lie.
a. 1240. Lofsong, in Cott. Hom., 211. Ase ich ligge lowe.
c. 1275. Lay., 14137. Ihc ligge faste bi-clused in on castle.
a. 1300–1400. Cursor M., 3612 (Gött.). Here … i liy [other texts lig, lye] in bed of care.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 417. I … ligge abedde in lenten.
1432. Test. Ebor., II. 22, j matres yt I lige on.
1530. Palsgr., 610/1. I lye a bedde.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. LVII. i. On thee I ly.
1688. Levinz, in Keble, Life Bp. Wilson, iii. (1863), 99. When I lye under the confinement of my melancholy retreat.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills (1872), II. 148. Thinking that I lig so nigh.
1801. R. Anderson, Cumb. Ball., 17. At neet I lig me down.
1802. Coleridge, Ode to Rain, 5. O Rain! that I lie listening to.
b. 2nd pers. sing. liest. Forms: α. 1 liʓest, liʓst, líst, 3–5 list, lyst, 4–9 lyest, 6–7 ly’st, 4– liest. Also north. 4 lyis, 5 lise, lyes. β. 5 lyggest, lyggyst.
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen., 734 (Gr.). Þær þu ʓebunden liʓst.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Josh. vii. 10. Aris nu … hwi list ðu neowel on eorþan.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 103. Wi list þu turnd on þe eorðe?
a. 1275. Death, 84, in O. E. Misc., 172. Nu þu list [v.r. lyst] on bere.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Manciple’s T., 172. Now listow deed [v.rr. lyst thow, liest thou, lyes thou].
c. 1450. Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 159. Heyl, Lord over lordys, that lyggyst ful lowe.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XXI. ii. Here now thow lyggest.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., V. ii. 151. Whil’st thou ly’st warme at home.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1663. Thou … now ly’st victorious Among thy slain.
1877. C. Patmore, Unknown Eros, I. ix. (Eurydice), Where … On pallet poor Thou lyest, stricken sick.
c. 3rd pers. sing. lies. Forms: α. 1 liʓeþ, liʓþ, líþ, 2–5 liþ, 3 liʓið, 3–6 lyth, 4 lyþe, leiþ, lyhth, liȝth, lyȝt, liht, 4–5 lijth, lithe, 4–6 lythe, 4–7 lyeth, 5–6 lyith, 3– (now arch.) lieth. Also (with ending orig. north.) 1 liʓes, 4 lyse, lijs, 4–5 lis(e, 4–6 liis, 4–8 lyes, 5–6 lyis, lyese, 6 Sc. lysz, lisz, lyisz, 4– lies. β. 2–6 liggeþ, -eth, 4–5 liggith. Also 4 liggus, 4–5 ligus, -es, lygges, -ys, -ez, 5 ligis, 6 (7–9 dial.) lig(g)s.
α. a. 900. O. E. Chron., an. 893 (Parker MS.). Seo ea … lið ut of þæm wealda.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. viii. 6. Cnaeht min liʓes in hus eorð-cryppel.
a. 1100. O. E. Chron., an. 675 (Laud MS.). Medeshamstede … & eal ꝥ þær to liggeð. Ibid., an. 792. His lic liʓð æt Tinan muþe.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 24. Ðanne he lieð to slepen.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 889. In ðe weie ðe liȝið to salem.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2117. Þis land lies mast vnto þe south.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 115. Lucifer louwest liȝth of hem alle.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 181. A-wake … who lyeth there [v.rr. lythe, liþe].
1382. Wyclif, Matt. viii. 6. My child lyeth [v.r. liggeth, 1388 lijth] … sike.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 5369. Teutra … here in tombe lis.
c. 1425. Hampole’s Psalter, Metr. Pref. 26. This same sauter … is þe self … That lyȝt at hampole.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 246. I have na knawledge quhair the Court lyis.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay, 84. To say … that thair lisz mair pardone to ony oder prayer.
c. 1560. A. Scott, Poems (S. T. S.), iv. 76. Sum can nocht keip hir gap Fra lansing, as scho lyiss.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 86. As much as in me lyeth.
1611. Bible, Neh. ii. 3. When the city … lyeth waste.
1660. Barrow, Euclid, I. xxvi. That side which lyeth betwixt the equal angles.
1666. Milton, 2nd Epit. University Carrier, 1. Here lieth one who [etc.].
1675. Earl of Essex, Lett. (1770), 88. That part of the town which … lyes to the water.
1711. Hearne, Collect. (O. H. S.), III. 133. His skill indeed chiefly lyes in Coyns.
β. a. 1300. Cursor M., 2033. Þi fader slepand … Liggus [Gött. lis, Fairf. lyse, Trin. liþ] here-oute.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1792. A dogge … þat in a dych lygges.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5173. A cabayne quare þe kyng liggis.
c. 1460. Towneley Plays, ii. 220. Gif hym that that ligis thore.
1597. Tofte, Laura, in Arb., Garner, VIII. 298. Ah, happy thrice, that ligs in love with thee!
1605. Camden, Rem., Epitaphs, 59. Iohn Bell broken-brow Ligs vnder this stean.
a. 1774. Fergusson, Hallowfair, Poems (1845), 15. When Phœbus ligs in Thetis’ lap.
1849. G. P. R. James, Woodman, xxxix. I can find out for him where liggs the pretty lass.
1865. S. Evans, Bro. Fabian, 52. Bold Robin he liggeth here.
d. plural lie. Forms: α. 1 licgaþ, licgeaþ, 2–3 liggeð, 4 liggiþ, 2–4 (6 arch.) liggen, 5 liggyn, 4 ligge, 5 lygge. Also north. 4 ligges, 5 liggez, liggis. β. 2–4 lien, 2–3 lin, 4–6 lyen, 5 lyȝn, lyun, 4–9 ly(e, 4– lie. Also north. 4 lijs, Sc. 4–6 lyis, lyes.
α. a. 1000. Andreas, 1426 (Gr.). Licgað æfter lande loccas todrifene.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 49. We liggeð in heueð sunnen.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6355. Þere hii liggeþ.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 25965. Al ur sin þat we … ligges in [Fairf. lien].
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 105. Thei liggen to-gedere.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 403. They … Stondeþ, sitteþ, liggeþ, and slepeþ. Ibid., II. 193. Þey ligge [Caxton lygge] vpriȝt.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 772*. Þar liggez lymmes of laddes. Ibid., 4845. Þai seȝe doun sodanly slane of þaire blonkis … & in þe strete liggis.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, E vij b. The Forchers that liggyn euen between The ij theys of the beest.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., May, 217. Many wyld beastes liggen in waite.
β. a. 1100. O. E. Chron., an. 963 (Laud MS.). Ealle þa þorpes þe ðærto lin. Ibid. (1154), an. 1137. Þe landes þe lien to þe circe wican.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 3. A1 þat bitter bale þat ter lieð under.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5340. Þar lijs [Fairf. lyes] our heldres.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2266. In caue þei lyen, & slepen samen y-fere.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Compl. Mars, 5. Ye lovers that lye [v.r. ben] in eny drede.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xiv. (Lucas), 80. & ger thame ryse þat lyis law.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), xxiv. 255. Thei lyȝn in Tentes.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 7066. Þe grekes, þat on oure ground lyun.
1448. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), II. 8. All the bemes that lyen by hemself.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 284. Whiche Ladyes were buryed … and now there lyen in shryne.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 54. Sum monstruous gret amang thame lyis to the cost of Carrik. Ibid., 148. In tyme of neid lyes the Pechtis abak wt thair supporte.
c. 1614. Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, I. 101. Troy … Whose ruines poore, which low in ashes lye.
1711. J. Greenwood, Eng. Gram., 197. Place and Things that ly upward.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), III. 104. Here lie the remains of Giacomo Sanseverini.
1808. A. Parsons, Trav., i. 12. Pebbles, which have been dug up … and now lye in heaps.
3. Indicative Past lay. Forms: α. (strong) 1st and 3rd pers. sing. 1 læʓ, læiʓ, 2 læi, 2–3 lei, 2–4 lai, leie, 3 læi(ȝ)e, leai, leiȝe, Ormin laȝȝ, 3–6 laie, 4 leȝ, leye, 4–5 leyȝe, leghe, 4–6 Sc. la, 4–7 ley, (5 lye, leȝe), 5–6 laye, 3– lay. 2nd pers. 1 lǽʓe, 3 læiȝe, 3–4 lay, lai, etc.; 7 laist, 9 lay’st. Plural. 1 lǽʓon, láʓon, Northumb. léʓon, 3–4 leien, laien, leiȝen, etc.; also 3– uninflected. β. (weak) 6–7 dial., 8–9 arch. ligged, 6 Sc. liggit, 9 lied, dial. lig’d.
α. Beowulf, 1532 (Gr.). Hit on eorðan læʓ.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. ix. 36. Leʓon suæ scip næfdon hiorde.
11[?]. O. E. Chron., an. 1052 (Cotton MS.). Þætte on Sandwic læiʓ.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., Mark ii. 4. Þæt bed þe se lame on laiȝ.
c. 1200. Ormin, 3692. He laȝȝ … i cribbe.
c. 1205. Lay., 5030. Þa wombe þe þu læie inne swa longe. Ibid., 9766. Vaspasien mid his monnen læiȝe [c. 1275 lay] at Exchæstre.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 42. In a ston stille he lai til it kam ðe dridde dai.
a. 1275. Passion Lord, 195, in O. E. Misc., 42. Þe Gywes vp asturte þat leyen in þe grunde.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3830. Boþe stede & king leye sone atte grounde.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10571. Þar efterson þai samen lai. Ibid., 23500. Quat þou did and in credel lai [other texts lay].
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2006. Þe leude lystened ful wel, þat leȝ in his bedde.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 214. Her fax … On schylderez þat leghe.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 107. His body lay in þe streete … unburied.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 8243. The ladies o lofte leghen to waite.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 4459 (Horstm.). He lye euer y-presonede stylle in þat castelle.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 173 b. His seignorie and power laie in those partes.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 57 b. His Purse … laye upon his bed.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., IX. 86. To ly hidd as he la.
1671. Milton, P. R., I. 247. The Manger where thou lais’t.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XVIII. vi. I lay Seven years in Winchester jail.
1847. L. Hunt, Jar Honey, x. (1848), 131. Sicily lay at our feet.
β. 1560. Rolland, Crt. Venus, I. 56. Behind the Bus … I liggit law.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 456. Their Cels and Commoratories where they ligged.
1748. Thomson, Cast. Indol., 595. Here whilom ligg’d th’ Esopus of the age.
1813. T. Busby, trans. Lucretius, I. Dissert. 14. Bright eminences and fertile vallies lied in his way. Ibid., VI. Comm. 25. Those who, by death or desertion, were deprived of their friends and domestics, lied unburied in their houses.
1879. E. Arnold, Lt. Asia, III. 2. In which calm home of happy life and love Ligged our Lord Buddha.
4. Subjunctive Present lie. Forms: 1 licge, 3–4 ligge, 4 lyg, ligg, 6 lig, 6–7 ly(e, 5– lie.
c. 1000. Laws of Wihtræd, c. 25 (Schmid). Licge butan wyrʓelde.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 424. Nenne mon ne leten heo in … ne ne ligge ute.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 3507. If any fal in dedly syn Ryse he up, and ligg noght lang þar-in.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 411. If þow þus ligge a day or two or þre.
c. 1375. Lay Folks Mass Bk. (MS. B.), 593. Wheþer we ryde, or be goande, lyg, or sitt.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. xx. 272. That he lie with the lord in oon bed.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 500. That he be lost or with me lig.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 31. How lang saevir the frost ly.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. vii. 61. If my forme lye there.
5. Subjunctive Past lay. Forms: 1 lǽʓe, (pl. lǽʓen), 3 leie, læie, 3–4 leye, 4 laye, 5 leyȝe, 7 ley (etc., as in pa. ind.), 5– lay.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., I. i. § 14. He sæde þat he … wolde fandian hu longe þæt land norþryhte læʓe.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 33. Þah þu leie in ane prisune.
c. 1205. Lay., 22254. Þat his folc gode aswunden ne læie þere [c. 1275 leye].
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 1532 (1560). If þis were wist my lif lay [v.r. leye] in balaunce.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 16. It were good þat he lay [Add. MS. leyȝe] & traueilide wiþ hise hondis.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., V. ii. 48. O, would the quarrell lay vpon our heads.
1684. T. Burnet, Theory Earth, I. 195. If the ballast ley more at one end, it would dip towards that pole.
6. Imperative lie. Forms: sing. 1 liʓ(e, 3 liȝ(e, 3–5 li, ly, 5–9 north. lig, ligg, 6–8 lye, 3– lie. plur. 4 liggeth; 4– lie.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 118. Liʓe on þa sidan þe [etc.].
c. 1205. Lay., 18097. Passent liȝ [c. 1275 ly] nu þer. Ibid., 28724. Liȝe þer.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 29. Ne lie þu nout stille.
a. 1275. Death, 137, in O. E. Misc., 176. Li [v.r. ly] awariede bali þat neauer þu ne arise.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 904 (953). Li stil and lat me slepe. Ibid., III. 899 (948). Liggeth stille and taketh hym right here.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., ii. 326. Lig down ther and take thi rest.
c. 1650. Christopher White, iv. in Child, Ballads, II. 439. Come, sweet wench, and ligg thy loue on mee.
1680. Otway, Orphan, I. iv. 276. Lye still! my Heart.
7. Present Participle lying. Forms: 1 licgende, Northumb. lic(c)end, 2–3 liggend, 4 liynge, lyng, liging, ligand(e, -onde, liende, lyende, liggonde, -ande, lyggynde, 4–5 ligging, -yng(e, 5 liggeng, lieng, lyynge, leing, liend, 4–6 lyeng(e, liand(e, lyand(e, 5 lyond, lyggande, 5–6 lyggyng(e, -ing(e, lyinge, 6 liyng, 7 lyeing, 5– lying, 9 ligging dial.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., John v. 6. Ðionne miððy ʓesæh se hælend licgende [Rushw. licende].
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 183. Þus doð þe libbende frend to-ȝenes þe liggende.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6130 (Cott.). For was na hus in al þat land Þat þar ne was ded man ligand [other texts liggande, ligond].
c. 1315. Shoreham, 122. Lyggynde ine hare forage.
c. 1325. Song Mercy, 57, in E. E. P. (1862), 120. In harde prisoun lyng.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 3384 (Fairf.). Þe landes lyand towarde þe est.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. viii. 14. He say his wyues moder liggynge [v.r. lyende, 1388 liggynge].
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 12666. Þe buernes … Left hym þer lyond.
1436. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 498/1. As Felons … in awayte lyggyng.
c. 1440. Generydes, 3027. In the feld he left hym liggeng.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 227. Lyand in lichory, laith, vnloveable.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVIII. xx. The fayrest corps lyenge in a ryche bedde.
1496. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 175. The Soueraigne leing in the dokke.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay, 64. Liand in his bed.
1553. Brende, Q. Curtius, F viij. The fore front alwayes defended the rest of the work lying behinde.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 5. The vthir syd lyeng toward Spane. Ibid., 9. The mid parte lyeing betuene that and Cheuott hillis.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 597. A merchantman lying at the quay took fire.
1864. Tennyson, Northern Farmer, I. i. Wheer ’asta beän saw long and meä liggin’ ’ere aloän?
8. Past Participle lain. Forms: α. (strong) 1 (ʓe)leʓen, 3 i-læien, i-leien, i-leye, i-lei, 3–4 y-leye(n, lei(e)n, 4 y-leine, y-leie, y-lay, y-leighe, yleiȝe, y-lie, leye(n, leie, leiȝen, ligen, lygyn, lin(e, Sc. lyin, 4–5 leyn(e, liggen, 4–6 lyn, 4–7 layn(e, laine, lyne, 4–8 layen, lyen, lien (also 9 arch.), 5 y-ly, lye, ? loy(e)n, 6 lyene, 7 li’n, lay, 7– lain. β. (weak) 6 Sc. liggit, 7 lied, 9 dial. lig’d.
α. c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., V. xiii. § 3. Þa heo þæron ʓeleʓen wæs.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 7. Longe we habben lein on ure fule synnes.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1711. He adde ileye sik.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10084. Vte o prisun strang þat þai had ligen [other texts liggen, leyn, leyne] in sua lang. Ibid., 11297. Efter þat sco suld ha lin [other texts lyne, lien, lyn] Fourti dais in hir gisin.
c. 1320. Sir Beues, 2001 (MS. A.). In is prisoun … Ichaue leie þis seuen ȝare.
c. 1325. Lai le Freine, 98. Tvay men han y-ly me by.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 4188 (Kölbing). Bi hir he wald haue yleiȝe.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 3162. Som … Þat … has … lang lygyn in þair syn.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 259. He haþ leiȝen [C. VII. 330 leye] bi latro, lucifers brother. Ibid., XI. 276. Þat hadde leyn [B. X. 419 yleine] with lucifer manye longe ȝeris.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 286. Þei han so longe leyen in so gret cursinge.
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., IV. 2090. It were as good thei had loyn in bedde.
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 525. How þat he had woundyd bene, And seke he had lye fulle sore.
c. 1450. Merlin, 86. How a man hadde lyen with her in semblaunce of the Duke.
1463. Bury Wills (Camden), 23. Ye bedde that she hath loyen in.
c. 1560. R. Morice, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 25. I wolde yt hadd byn my fortune to have lyn in London.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. (1590), 101 b. Those flames which had so long layn deade in me.
1611. Bible, John xx. 12. Where the body of Iesus had layen.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., II. 67. Oft in one shade the hare and hound hath lyne.
1650. Baxter, Saints’ R., III. vi. § 24 (1651), 125. What if you had lien in Hell but one year?
1675. Earl of Essex, Lett. (1770), 207. An order of Council which had several months lay by me.
1676. Hobbes, Iliad (1677), 380. I … rolling on the soiled grass have li’n Perpetually, and … wept.
1681. T. Flatman, Heraclitus Ridens, No. 25 (1713), I. 161. If my Life had lain never so much at stake.
1703. T. N., City & C. Purchaser, 43. Bricks … had layen in the Place to dry.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1756), 227. We … found it had lyen much longer conceal’d.
1788. Beattie, Burns’ Wks., II. 141. Lang had she lien wi’ buffe and flegs.
1871. G. Macdonald, Bk. Sonnets, in Wks. Fancy & Imag., II. 176. At thy holy feet I should have lien.
1871. Smiles, Charac., iii. (1876), 69. I have lain awake all night.
β. 1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lv. 28. I saw cowclinkis Had better liggit in the stockis.
1670. Barrow, in Rigaud, Corr. Sci. Men (1841), II. 75. It hath lied by me without looking on for many years.
1832. Specim. Yorksh. Dial., 11. Had she lig’d theer lang?
B. Signification and uses.
I. In senses expressive of bodily posture, and developments of these.
1. intr. Of persons or animals: To be in a prostrate or recumbent position. Formerly also with refl. pronoun.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 246. Se witeʓa læʓ and slep. Ibid., 328. Þa læʓ sum wædla æt his ʓeate, and his nama wæs Lazarus.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 81. Þes oðer Mon … luueð his sunnen alse deð þet fette swin þet fule fen to liggen in.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 690. Bi þe dere þat now es wild, Als lambe him lai þe leon mild.
c. 1300. Havelok, 475. Þe children … Leyen and sprauleden in þe blod.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 55. ‘A ha!’ said þe erle, ‘had þat schank ne bien, þou had liggen þer stille, þe risen suld non haf sene.’
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. Prol. 9. As I lay and leonede and lokede on þe watres.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxix. 2. He sawȝ a pit in the feeld and thre flockis of sheep liggynge bisidis it.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., ii. 6 (Harl. MS.). To ligge ny þe fire.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., II. (1895), 295. When they haue lien a little space on the grounde, the priest giueth them a signe for to ryse.
1607. Dekker, Knt.’s Conjur. (1842), p. vi. They that haue once or twice lyen vpon the rack of publicke censure.
1809. Med. Jrnl., XXI. 385. The woman having lain during the labour upon her left side.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., lxxxix. 23. To hear him, as he lay and read The Tuscan poets on the lawn.
b. with predicative complement expressing condition; e.g., to lie asleep, sick, dead, blind, in a fever. † Also with inf. (e.g., to lie to die).
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. viii. 6. Min cnapa lið on minum huse lama.
1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1135 (Laud MS.). He lai an slep in scip.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 81. And efre lei þes wreche for-wunden.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2286. Nalde nawt godd leoten his martirs licomes liggen to forleosen.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter Cant., 496. A man þat liggys in a strayte fifere.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 14172 (Trin.). He liþ to deȝe þat lele & trewe.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lxi. 253 (Harl. MS.). The suster of the Emperoure, þat now lithe in childebed.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVII. xviii. 715. And anon the kynge sawe hym the whiche had leyne blynd of long tyme.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 72 b. And so sayd saynt Laurence whan he laye rostynge on the yren crate.
1530. Palsgr., 610/1. I lye at the poynte of dethe.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 24 b. For the duke of Saxonie lay sicke at Collen.
1564. Grindal, Funeral Serm. Ferdinand, A iv b. Aeschilus the Poete lieng on slepe bare headed nere the sea.
1669. Pepys, Lett., 2 Nov., in Diary (1879), VI. 112. My wife … hath layn under a fever so severe, as [etc.].
1711. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 3 Aug. Ophy Butler’s wife there lies very ill of an ague.
1870. E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., III. 81. For hours she lay awake.
1887. E. Berdoe, St. Bernard’s, 68. The gradually beworsening room where she lay a cripple for so many years.
† c. Used simply = to ‘lie sick,’ keep one’s bed.
c. 1300. Cursor M., 8942. War his sekenes neuer sa strang, Ne had he lin neuer sua lang.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. xiii. 91. They … told hym how her lady was seke & had layne many yeres.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., X. 408. Quhen bot schort he had lyne the x of July he departed this lyfe.
d. Expressing the posture of a dead body: To be extended on a bier or the like; to be buried (in a specified place). To lie in state: see STATE. † In OE. and early ME. also, To be dead.
Beowulf, 2745 (Gr.). Nu se wyrm liʓeð.
a. 1000. O. E. Chron., an. 901 (Parker MS.). Æðelwald … sæde þæt he wolde oðer oððe þær libban oððe þær licgan.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 35. Ga to þine feder burinesse oðer þer eni of þine cunne lið in.
c. 1205. Lay., 5869. We eow wulleð bi-foren libben oðer liggen.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3892. Ðor he [Aaron] lið doluen on ðat wold.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5340. Þar lijs our heldres, þar sal i li.
c. 1470. Harding, Chron. CLXXIX. ii. Thyrty thousande with theim liggand ly.
1501. Bury Wills (Camden), 83. The holy place where the blyssyd and holy Apostyll Seynt Jamys lyth.
1695. Sibbald, Autobiog. (1834), 126. He was buried at Edinburgh in the Gray Frier churchyard, where our other relations lye.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 164, ¶ 12. Here lie the Bodies of Father Francis and Sister Constance.
1798. Wordsw., We are Seven, 21. Two of us in the churchyard lie, My sister and my brother.
e. To be in one’s bed for the purpose of sleeping or resting. Also (now rarely) with qualifying word or phrase, e.g., to lie soft(ly.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 102/37. Þare heo leien In heore beden.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VII. 14. The Neodi and the Nakede nym ȝeeme hou thei liggen.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xvi. (Magdalene), 312. Þu in chuchis & silkine clathis lyis ful softe.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sir Thopas, 200. He nolde slepen in noon hous But liggen in his hoode.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lxiii. 274 (Harl. MS.). Certenly he desirith wele to ete, swetly to drinke, softely to ligge.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., May, 125. Tho gan shepheards swaines to looke aloft, And leave to live hard, and learne to ligge soft.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath. (1839), 8. Hence it is that lying cold breedeth dreams of fear.
1710. Mrs. Centlivre, Man’s Bewitched, V. 68. Leave the London Dames … To lig in their Beds till Noon.
1742. Chesterf., Lett. (1792), I. xc. 250. The people are extremely rude and barbarous, living chiefly upon raw flesh, and lying generally upon the ground, or at best in tents.
1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, ix. You must lie on the bed which you have made for yourself.
f. Hence to lie with (or † by): to have sexual intercourse with. Somewhat arch.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 27943. Incest, þat es for to lij Bi þat þi sibman has line bi.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 852 (Kölbing). Þis maiden … feled al so bi her þi, þat sche was yleyen bi.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), xxvii. 276. He wille not lyȝe with his Wyfes but 4 sithes in the Ȝeer.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, V. xii. That none of his lyege men shold defoule ne lygge by no lady.
1504. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), p. lxiv. That they shuld not ligg togedder till she came to the age of xvi yeres.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay, 16. Thay that lysz wit thair kine and bluid.
1611. Bible, Jer. iii. 2. Lift vp thine eyes vnto the high places, and see where thou hast not bene lien with.
a. 1652. Brome, Mad Couple, I. i. Wks. 1873, I. 16. You have unlawfully lyen with some woman.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 51, ¶ 7. Tho’ he betrays the Honour and Bed of his Neighbour and Friend, and lies with half the Women in the Play.
1750. G. Jeffreys, in Duncombe’s Letters (1773), II. 250. He was only beforehand with his double-dealing brother in lying with a prostitute.
2. To assume a recumbent or prostrate position. Chiefly in lie down, lie back, etc., for which see branch IV. † Also with refl. pronoun. † Also, to lean or hang over (a wall).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20487. To hir bedd son scho ȝod & lay Abutte þe time al of midday.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 70. Þat maidens miȝt him se And ouer þe walles to lye.
c. 1435. Torr. Portugal, 1166. Ladyes lay over and beheld.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xix. 67 (Harl. MS.). And þerfore let vs make him, þat settith such a dyet in vs, to rise with vs, and lig with vs.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Alfonce, v. We shalle go and lye vs for to slepe.
1530. Palsgr., 610/1. I lye me to slepe, je me mets a dormir.
a. 1828. Leesome Brand, xxxiii. in Child, Ballads, I. 183. His mother lay ower her castle wa, And she beheld baith dale and down.
1832. Tennyson, Miller’s Dau., 111. From off the wold I came, and lay Upon the freshly-flower’d slope.
3. To be or remain in a specified position of subjection, helplessness, misery, degradation or captivity; to be kept in prison; to continue in sin, etc. † Also simply = ‘to lie in prison’; sometimes idiomatically to lie by it. To lie by the heels (arch.): see HEEL sb.1 18. To lie open (to): see OPEN.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., V. i. On carcernum læʓon.
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues (1888), 37. Ȝif he … lið on sume heaued-senne.
c. 1300. Havelok, 1374. He haueth me do … ofte in sorwe and pine ligge.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 4307. Alle oþer of þe lorbes of þat lond þat þere leie in hold.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm. (Sel. Wks.), I. 39. A long custom to ligge in synne.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, IV. vii. We ben here xx knyghtes prysoners … & some of vs haue layne here seuen yere.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 239 b/1. And yet he entended to be his pledge and to lye for him, his charite was so grete.
1530. Palsgr., 610/1. I lye bounde in chaynes.
1567. Gude & Godlie Ball. (S.T.S.), 133. Sa lang in Sin as thow dois ly.
1586. Earl Leicester, Corr. (Camden), 277. The auditour also … is worthy to lye by the heeles.
1618. E. Elton, Rom., vii. (1622), 90. Any particular sinne wherein thou hast liued and lyen.
1631. Massinger, Emperor East, III. i. To free all such as lie for debt.
1644. Quarles, Barnabas & B., 16. I must be paid, or he lie by it, until I have my utmost farthing or his bones.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, II. (1692), 138. Lincoln was like to lye by it, and to be shut out of mercy by an irreversible decree.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Fables, Life Æsop (1708), 7. From Lying at the Mercy of Fire, Water, and a Wicked Woman, Good Lord deliver us.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 482. The defendant … was lying in prison as a debtor.
1882. Stevenson, Fam. Stud. 265. His brother still lay by the heels for an unpatriotic treaty with England.
b. To lie under: to be subject to (some disadvantage or obligation).
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, IV. i. 171. If this sweet Ladie lye not guiltlesse heere, Vnder some biting error.
1682. Count Königsmark, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 336. The misfortune which I lay under.
1701. W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, vi. 105. He lay under a sort of a Vow.
1710. Addison, Whig Exam., No. 4, ¶ 9. Any one who reads this letter will lye under the same delusion.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. x. 236. Manila … lies under some disadvantage, from the difficulty there is in getting to sea to the eastward.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii. II. 202. In spite of all the restraints under which the press lay.
1866. Dk. Argyll, Reign Law, vii. (1871), 331. The bondage under which all Science lies to fact.
4. To remain in a state of inactivity or concealment (not necessarily prone or reclining). Chiefly with complementary adj. or pa. pple. (For to lie close, low, perdu, etc., see those adjs.)
Cf. sense 8, where the subj. is a thing.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., II. Metr. vii. 47 (Camb. MS.). Liggeth thanne stille al owtrely vnknowable.
1538. Starkey, England, II. i. 174. By the reson wherof our owne marynerys oft-tymys lye idul.
1604. E. G[rimstone], trans. D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, I. xvii. 57. That these nations of the Indies, which have lyen so long hidden, should bee knowne and discovered.
1679. Dryden, Troilus & Cr., III. i. We’ll none of him: but let him like an Engine Not portable, lye lagg of all the Camp.
1745. in Col. Rec. Pennsylv., V. 12. We have in this part of the country lain still, both the last Summer and this.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Tont le monde bas,… the order to the ship’s crew to lie snug upon deck or below.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, xlviii. He … resolved to lie concealed within a short distance of the metropolis. Ibid., l. Do you mean to sell me, or to let me lie here till this hunt is over?
1885. U. S. Grant, Mem., I. xx. 269. They were growing impatient at lying idle so long, almost in hearing of the guns of the enemy.
b. To lie in ambush, in wait, † in await (see the sbs.). † To lie for = to lie in wait for. To lie at catch or upon the catch (? arch. or dial.): to set oneself to entrap a person, to be captious. (For to lie at lurch, at ward, on one’s guard, see the sbs.)
1605. T. Ryves, Vicar’s Plea (1620), 141. He must take heede that hee seeme not to lie at catch for an aduantage against his inferiour fellow Minister.
1611. Cotgr., Aguetté, dogged; watched, waited; lien for.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., III. i. § 11. Lie at catch, and wait advantages one against another.
1671. Shadwell, Humourists, III. 38. Dryb. … That’s stole out of a Play. Craz. What then, that’s lawful; ’tis a shifting age for wit, and every body lies upon the Catch.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. 307. The Dutch had a rich fleet coming from Smyrna … Holmes was ordered to lye for them … with eight men of war.
1802–12. Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), I. 588, note. Since he lay upon the watch and catch, only to see what the plaintiff proved.
1879. Spurgeon, Serm., XXV. 329. He only asks the question because it ought to be asked, and does not lie upon the catch.
c. Shooting. Of game-birds: To remain crouching upon the ground. (Also to lie dead.) To lie to the dogs, to the gun: to permit the approach of a dog or the sportsman without ‘rising.’
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVII. 441/1. After the birds have been sprung many times, they lie so dead that they will suffer him [the sportsman] almost to tread upon them before they will rise. Ibid., 441/2. Partridges lie much better to dogs that wind them, than to those that follow them by the track. Ibid., 443/1. When … the sportsman perceives the birds running with their heads erect, he must run after them … for he may be pretty certain they will not lie well that day.
1848. Zoologist, VI. 1964. The Spanish snipe would much less frequently ‘lie’ to the gun.
1886. Badm. Libr., Shooting, 6. In Scotland grouse are usually walked up with dogs. The birds in that country lie well…. If grouse lie well to dogs … they give easy marks to the gunner.
d. To lie on or upon one’s arms, oars, sculls, to lie upon wing: see the sbs.
5. To dwell or sojourn; esp. to sleep or pass the night (in a place), to lodge temporarily. Now rare or arch.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 312. At Sant Katerine hous þe erle Marschalle lay.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 166. Þe king edwardes newe at glouseter þat ligges.
1415. Sir T. Grey, in 43 Deputy Keeper’s Rep., 584. And yat neghte I lay at Kengston.
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowl., xvii. (1870), 167. Prage, wher the king of Boeme doth ly much whan he is in the countre.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., IV. 141. [He] kept a better house, than any Ambassadour did, that euer lay at Constantinople.
1695. Congreve, Love for L., I. xi. I think your father lies at Foresight’s.
1721. Lond. Gaz., No. 5980/3. The Exeter Carrier has lain at the Saracen’s Head Inn … for many Years past.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., vi. (Globe), 12. He refused, as he was to lie that night at a neighbour’s.
1776. H. Walpole, Lett. to Mason, 16 April. She lay at home … or according to the chaste modern phrase, slept there.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., viii. II. 295. He lay that night at the deanery.
b. spec. of a host or army (or its leader): To be encamped, to have or take up a position in a field. † To lie in leaguer: see LEAGUER.
c. 1205. Lay., 650. He … leai þer abuten & abat his balesiðes.
c. 1450. Merlin, 239. The saisnes … laye that nyght stille armed.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. vi. For the kyng Ryons lyeth at a syege atte castel Tarabil.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxi. 213. Ye admyrall that lay at sege before ye castell.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 259. The kyng laie before Bullein, and was like to have conquered the same.
1644. Vicars, God in Mount, 146. Their Forces which had lyen so long before Sherborne.
a. 1671. Ld. Fairfax, Mem. (1699), 28. At Wakefield, six miles off, lay three thousand of the enemy.
1724. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 68. The army lay under their arms all night.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 294. Near the capital lay also the corps which is now designated as the first regiment of dragoons.
† c. To live under specified circumstances or engaged in some specified occupation. (With at, about.) Obs.
1546. Langley, Pol. Verg. De Invent., VIII. iii. 146 b. It cost hym his life in Areciæ, where he laye at Surgery for the healyng of his legge.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. I. 176. An Englishman called Thomas Williams … lieth about trade of merchandize in the streete called The Soca of the Iewes.
1623. Massinger, Bondman, I. i. To lie at rack and manger.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, V. vii. (1737), 27. There he lay at Rack and Manger.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. vi. The men lying … at victuals and wages upon the owners’ account.
† d. To be quartered on. Obs.
1669. Ormonde MSS., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 101. Five of the horsemen are lying on the tenants of your petitioner.
6. In various idiomatic uses (with preps., etc.), expressive of steady and continuous action. (Cf. L. incumbere operi.)
† a. To lie at, upon: to importune, urge. Obs.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Macc. xi. 40. He … laye sore vpon him, to delyuer him this yonge Antiochus.
1566. Gascoigne, Supposes, I. i. Poems 1869, I. 204. The olde dotarde, he that so instantly dothe lye vpon my father for me [i.e., as a suitor for her hand].
1568. MS. Depos. Canterbury Cath. Libr., Bk. 16. 24 Sept., Shee hath layne at me a good while to have your good will in maryage with her.
1600. Holland, Livy, I. 32. Dame Tullia lay ever upon him, & pricked forward his distempered & troubled mind.
1619. W. Whateley, God’s Husb., ii. (1622), 114. To lie at him with vncessant and vehement sollicitations to commit such and such foule deeds.
1673. Janeway, Heaven on E. (1847), 155. Shall they lie at you day and night, to give your consent,… and are you still unwilling?
a. 1688. W. Clagett, 17 Serm. (1699), 358. The judge in the parable granted the widow’s suit merely because she lay upon him, and was troublesome to him.
1737. Whiston, Josephus, Hist., III. viii. § 3. Nicanor lay hard at Josephus to comply.
† b. To lie heavy upon: to oppress, harass. (Cf. 7 c.) Obs.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. CXLVI. iii. He orphans doth support: But heavy lies upon the godlesse sort.
1611. Bible, 1 Esdras v. 72. The heathen of the land lying heauy vpon the inhabitants of Iudea, and holding them straite, hindred their building.
1676. Hobbes, Iliad (1677), 181. This said, the Lycians heavier than before (To please their prince) upon the Argives lay.
c. To lie † at, to: to apply oneself vigorously and steadily to.
1583. Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., III. 87 b. Citizens, Souldiers, Souldiers Wiues, and Pages, laye at it daye and night: insomuch that it was quickly dispatcht.
1656. Baxter, Reformed Pastor, 58. This is the work that we should lie at with them night and day.
1833. L. Ritchie, Wand. by Loire, 160. The men … lay desperately to their oars, and the skiff sprang through the water.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. xi. 78. No mercenary mock-workers, but real ones that lie freely to it.
† d. with gerund: To keep on or continue doing something. Obs. rare.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Fables, xi. (1708), 13. Why will you lie Pining and Pinching your self in such a Lonesome, Starving Course of Life? Ibid., lxii. 77. The Generality of Mankind lye Pecking at One Another, till One by One they are all Torn to Pieces. Ibid. (1692), Josephus, iv. (1733), 892. Here’s an obscure, mean Wretch, that has the Face to lie tutoring me upon a Subject he knows nothing at all of himself.
II. Said of things, material or immaterial.
7. Of material things: To be placed or set horizontally or lengthwise or at rest on the ground or other surface.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John xx. 5. He ʓeseah þa linwæda licʓan.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 9/296. Þat treo ne scholde nouȝt ligge þere.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1129. His blod on erth sced lijs.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 65. As a leek þat hedde I-leiȝen longe In þe sonne.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), iii. 9. Apon þat body lay a grete plate of gold.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6603. Alle þe clathes lay him aboute.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 262 b. On all the bankes by the water side, laie peces of ordinaunce whiche shot of.
1590. Greene, Mourn. Garm. (1616), 12. A bottle full of Country whigge, By the Shepheards side did ligge.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physick (1762), 75. Take as much as lies on a shilling of Calcin’d Eggshells.
1754. Chatham, Lett. Nephew, vi. 42. I hear with great pleasure, that Jocke lay before you, when you writ last to me.
1776–96. Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), II. 436. Corn fields and sandy places, especially where water has lain.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 345. The ruins of an old fort were to be seen lying among the pebbles and seaweed on the beach.
b. To be deposited, remain permanently in a specified place.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), ii. 6. Þe coroune lyes in a vessell of cristall.
1459. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), II. 227. A Sawter … and an Hympner … lyggynge in his saide closet.
1463. Bury Wills (Camden), 22. The gardeyn assigned … for woode to lye in.
1535. Coverdale, Judith xii. 1. Then commaunded he her to go in, where his treasure laye.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 1 b. Al the grains and cornes lyand in bings.
1804. Europ. Mag., XLV. 65/1. A Petition from J. Macleod … was ordered to lie on the table.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 393. An esquire passed among his neighbours for a great scholar, if Hudibras and Baker’s Chronicle [etc.] … lay in his hall window among the fishing rods and fowling pieces.
1891. Law Times, XCI. 411/2. Jeune, J. made the order, but directed that it should lie in the office for a week.
c. Of a building, etc.: To be overthrown or fallen; with complement, as to lie in ruins, in the dust. To lie heavy: to be a heavy load upon (lit. and fig.: see HEAVY a.). Of food, etc., To lie heavy, cold, etc. († formerly, simply to lie) on the stomach: to be felt as oppressive.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 544 (Kölbing). Foundement & werk þai founde Ligge vp so & doun op þe grounde.
a. 1592. H. Smith, God’s Arrow agst. Atheists, v. (1593), K 3 b. If it bee not builded vpon a good foundation … the whole building is like to lie in the dust.
1711. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 5 Sept. I ate sturgeon, and it lies on my stomach.
c. 1726. [see HEAVY 1 b].
1884. W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 43. One sidewall long had in ruins lain.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 704. Delicate persons, in whom the cold water tends to lie heavy on the stomach.
8. To remain unworked, unused, untouched or undiscovered. Often with complement, as to lie barren, hid, waste (see also FALLOW a.2, LEA a.); also in phr. to lie on one’s hands, to lie at a stand.
(Cf. sense 4, where the subj. is a person or a personification.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6841. Your land yee sal sau seuen [sic] yeir…. Þe seuend ye sal it lat lij still.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. VI. 165. Worth neuere plente amonge þe poeple þer-while my plow liggeth.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 173 b. Wherfore all brode Clothes, Kerseis, and Cottons, laye on their handes.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 150 b. Through our mens wrytinges, sondrye articles are called agayne to lyght, whiche laye before hidde in darkenes.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faustus (1604), D 3 b. Letts goe and make cleane our bootes which lie foule vpon our handes.
1622. in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 211. This hath made matters to lie a little at a stand.
1628. Digby, Voyage Medit. (1868), 68. To make them buy their currantes (which lay vpon their handes).
1641. Hinde, J. Bruen, To Rdr. 7. This worke hath lyen above twice five [years].
1653. Holcroft, Procopius, III. 88. Turris, an ancient City … which had been sack’d by Barbarians, and layen long wast.
1671. Flavel, Fount. of Life, I. 3. ’Tis pity that anything in Christ should ly hid from his People.
1879. Gladstone, Glean., I. i. 2. Rarely within the living memory has so much of skill lain barren.
† 9. Of the wind, the tongue: To be or become still, be at rest, subside. Obs.
a. 1000. Phœnix, 182. Ðonne wind liʓeð weder bið fæʓer.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXV. xxvii. 569. When the East wind began to lie, which for certeine daies had blustred and raged.
1611. Cotgr., Languarde,… a wench whose tongue neuer lyes.
1647. Trapp, Comm. 1 Thess. v. 3. When the winde lies, the great rain fals.
1689. Prior, Ep. to F. Shephard, 110. Fancies flow in, and Muse flies high; So God knows when my Clack will lye.
10. To be situated (in space), to have a (specified) position. Often with adj. (or quasi-adv.) complement.
c. 1121. O. E. Chron., an. 656 (Laud MS.). Ealle þa landes þa þær abuton liggeð.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2469. Þe land o gommor þar-bi lijs.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 316. Ac þei leten hem as lordes her londe lith so brode.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 161. In þe holownes þat is aboue liggiþ þe herte & þe lungis.
1455. Rolls of Parlt., V. 313/1. vii acres of Mede, liggyng in the Mede beside the Brigge of Chartesey.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 508. The citie, which lay wonderfull commodious for the Romanes.
1597. Bacon, Coulers Good & Evill, V. Ess (Arb.), 144. Men whose liuing lieth together in one Shire.
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. iv. 21. O that way madnesse lies, let me shun that.
1648. Hamilton Papers (Camden), 184. I belieue the sceane of disorder may lye heere.
1657. R. Ligon, Barbadoes (1673), 3. So much is the eye deceived in Land which lies high.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, II. (1723), 77. Those Strata that ly deepest.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 170, ¶ 13. It is a Misfortune for a Woman to be born between the Tropicks; for there lie the hottest Regions of Jealousy.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 204. A small sea-port of Somersetshire, lying upon the Bristol Channel.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 606. Within the manor of Collingham, where the lands lay.
1883. Eng. Illustr. Mag., Nov., 72/1. The wild beauty of Wicken Fen is in striking contrast with the cultivated land lying around it.
b. To be spread out or extended to the view.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 100. But let us try these truths with closer eyes, And trace them through the prospect as it lies.
1792. Gentl. Mag., 9/2. A spacious field now lies before the Christian world for the introduction of a better policy.
1836. J. H. Newman, Par. Serm. (1837), III. x. 141. It is remarkable that such difficulties as these should lie on the face of Scripture.
1848. W. H. Bartlett, Egypt to Pal., v. (1879), 99. We could not for a moment expect such indications to lie upon the surface.
1860. Pusey, Min. Proph., 181. Samaria … unfenced and unconcealed by walls, lay open, unsheltered in every part from the gaze of the besiegers.
1890. J. Payn, Burnt Million, II. xxx. 248. What a future seemed to lie before him!
c. Of a road, way, journey, etc.: To extend, have a (specified) direction.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xxxv. 19. On þam weʓe, þe lið to Euphfrate.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., III. ii. 212. There lies your way. Ibid. (1605), Lear, III. iv. 10. If thy flight lay toward the roaring Sea.
1648. Gage, West Ind., 114. I found it not so hard to overcome, as I had conceited, the way lying with windings.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., x. II. 567. The counties through which the road to London lay.
1851. Carlyle, Sterling, II. vii. (1872), 142. Our course lay along the Valley of the Rhone.
1883. R. W. Dixon, Mano, III. viii. 136. Nor doubt I where my voyage next must lie.
d. Of the wind: To remain in a specified quarter.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. v. 218. Small furnaces vpon the sides of the mountaines, built expresly where the winde lies.
1704. Ray, Creation, I. (ed. 4), 96. The wind lying in that corner at least three quarters of the Year.
11. Naut. a. Of a ship: To be stationed in a berth or anchorage.
c. 1121. O. E. Chron., an. 1009 (Laud MS.). And þær [þa scipu] sceoldan licgan.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VII. 1068. A hundreth schippys … in hawyn was lyand thar.
1495. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 254. The seid ship lying at Rode in the Kynges haven.
1530. Palsgr., 610/1. I lye at an anker, as a shyppe dothe.
1775. R. Chandler, Trav. Asia Minor (1825), I. 35. They lay at anchor near Tenedos.
a. 1812. A. Cherry, Song, Bay of Biscay, 7. Our poor devoted bark, Till next day, there she lay, In the Bay of Biscay O!
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 302. He … lay in port when he was ordered to chase a Sallee rover.
1851. D. G. Mitchell, Fresh Glean., 12. The Zebra lay just off the pier.
b. To steer in a (specified) direction. Also (quasi-trans.) to lie the course: (of a ship) to have her head in the direction wished. To lie at hull: see HULL sb.2 2.
1574. W. Bourne, Regiment for Sea, xix. (1577), 51 a. If the ship haue had often trauerse by the meanes of contrary windes, so that she could not lie hir course.
1597–8. Bp. Hall, Sat., IV. v. 121. Whiles his false broker lyeth in the wind.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. ii. (1840), 27. They could not lie near the wind.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. v. 342. The proas … are capable of lying much nearer the wind than any other vessel hitherto known.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), G gg. The ship cannot lie her course without being close-hauled.
1800. Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), IV. 189. The Success being to leeward, Captain Peard … lay across his hawse.
1892. H. M. Doughty, Our Wherry in Wendish Lands, 123. The waterway we now entered … was scarcely four feet deep … and that only in the middle. Luckily we could just lie it. Ibid., 301. A turn enabled us to lie our course, and up the sail went.
12. fig. Of immaterial things: To exist, be found, have place, reside (in some specified place or quarter); to be set, fixed or arranged in some specified position or order. † To lie fair: to be just or reasonable. † To lie in common: to be common to or among several possessors.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1916. For-ði wexem wið gret nið And hate, for it in ille (herte) lið.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22280. Al falshed and feluni, And al tresun sal in him lii.
1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 334. And þus popes & prelates kepen to hem silf assoylyng, in which lyþe wynnyng.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. xiv. 233. Whiche ij. textis, if thei ben considered as thei liggen to gidere in rewe.
1523. Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 1200. Therby lyith a tale.
1538. Starkey, England, I. ii. 33. Herin, me semyth lyth a dowte.
1566. Adlington, Apuleius, To Rdr. I have not … so absolutely translated every word as it lieth in the prose.
1641. Milton, Animadv., V. Wks. 1851, III. 223. If the words lay thus in order.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., I. i. § 15. This defect … of those histories is either more general, which lies in common to them all, or [etc.]. Ibid., II. iv. § 1. If the opposition did not lie between the order of true Prophets … and the false Prophets.
1672. R. Montagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 520. Methinks it is natural and lies fair enough that … I should have some share in [etc.].
1704. Swift, T. Tub, Wks. 1760, I. 67. Their father … commanded, that whatever they got should lie in common among them all.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 170, ¶ 12. Their Acquaintance and Conversation has lain wholly among the vicious Part of Womankind.
1719. J. T. Philipps, trans. Thirty four Confer., 43. If they continue in their Disobedience, the fault lies at their own doors.
1845. McCulloch, Taxation, I. iv. (1852), 109. If the choice lay only between a tax on property and a tax on income.
1848. J. H. Newman, Loss & Gain, 147. He … holds many profound truths in detail, but is quite unable to see how they lie to each other.
1861. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 33. The people themselves, incapable of discerning where their true interest lay.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. vii. 112. Their sympathies lay wholly with Gruffydd.
1883. R. W. Dixon, Mano, I. viii. 23. And told him all the truth, how all things lay.
† b. Of thoughts, inclinations, activities, etc.: To have a specified direction. Obs.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, N. T., 281. Our fight doth not lye against flesh and blood.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., III. 189. The Elench here lyes directly, and point-blanck against the Papists.
1666. Boyle, Orig. Formes & Qual. (1667), 2. The … Prejudices that lye against them.
1672. Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.), Rehearsal, I. i. (Arb.), 25. My humour lyes another way.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Fables, Life Æsop (1708), 22. Æsop’s Faculty lay notably that way.
1825. New Monthly Mag., XIII. 17. My inclinations have not lain towards prose.
c. To lie in (a person): to rest or center in him; to depend upon him, be in his power (to do). Now chiefly in phr. as far as in (me, etc.) lies. Also, to lie in one’s power, to lie in (or † on) one’s hands.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 965. Þer-for loueliche ladi in þe lis al min hope.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Compl. Mars, 184. Sith hit lythe in his myght.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 431. Hit lyth in my grace, Wheþer þei deye oþer deye nat.
c. 1440. Generydes, 3109. I wote right wele it lithe in me The Sowdon to destroye.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. iii. Aske what ye wil and ye shall haue it, and hit lye in my power to yeue hit.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxi. 243. It lyeth now in you to do with hym at your pleasure.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 255 b. Thei promised the kyng, to doo all that in theim laie with their frendes.
1590. Marlowe, Edw. II. (1598), H 2 b. Fauour him my Lord, as much as lieth in you.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. ii. 4. Correction lyeth in those hands Which made the fault that wee cannot correct.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lx. § 7. The Church, as much as in her lieth, wilfully casteth away their soules.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. vii. § 2 (1873), 113. To me … that do desire as much as lieth in my pen [etc.].
1613. Overbury, A Wife, Wks. (1856), 44. Women though they weaker be … yet on their hands The chastity of men doth often lye.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 176. As much as in you hath lyen.
1662. Charles II., in Julia Cartwright, Henrietta of Orleans (1894), 121. I am sure I have done all that lies in my power.
1720. Ozell, Vertot’s Rom. Rep., I. IV. 226. All the Hopes of the Republic lay in an old Man just taken from the Plough.
1875. Scrivener, Lect. Text N. Test., 9. Resolved, so far as in him lay, to root out the Christian Faith.
1885. Tennyson, Tiresias. Only in thy virtue lies The saving of our Thebes.
† d. To belong or pertain to a person (to do); to pertain, be attached or incident to a thing. Also, to lie (one) in hand to do. Obs.
c. 1225. Leg. Kath., 779. Ne lið hit nawt to þe to leggen lahe upon me.
13[?]. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. (E.E.T.S.), 505/453. Þer-to liht muche mede.
c. 1430. Hymns Virg., 42. To me, maistir deuel, it lijs; To ihesu wole y take hede.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 73. He cannot choose … but … do all things, that lie God a King and Prieste in hande to doe.
1657. W. Rand, trans. Gassendi’s Life Peiresc, I. 59. Contrarily, it lies me in hand, I suppose, to take heed, least [etc.].
e. To lie with: to be the office or province of (some one) to do something.
1885. Manch. Exam., 22 Sept., 5/1. It lies now with Turkey to take the initiative.
f. To rest or be imposed as a burden, charge, obligation, etc., upon a person; to be incumbent or obligatory upon; to press or weigh upon (one’s mind or heart).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8348 (Cott.). He tald þat him lai apon hert. Ibid., 13385 (Gött.). On vs ligges noght þe nede.
1526. Tindale, Acts xxvii. 20. Noo smale tempest laye apon vs.
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., Ep. to King. Sundrie occasions which may lye them on.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., V. ii. 48. O, would the quarrell lay vpon our heads.
1630. Sanderson, Serm., II. 255. It lieth us upon, to employ it to the best advantage we can.
1666. Bunyan, Grace Ab., ¶ 86. That Scripture lay much upon me, without shedding of Blood is no remission.
1676. W. Hubbard, Happiness of People, 49. The present distress of the war that hath lyen so long upon us.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. 62. It was a duty lying on them by the Covenant.
1722. De Foe, Plague (Rtldg.), 94. These Things … lay upon my Mind.
1794. Burke, Sp. agst. W. Hastings, Wks. XVI. 74. With those charges lying upon him.
1804. Castlereagh, in Owen, Wellesley’s Desp., 258. It lay upon them to offer terms to us.
1873. Act 36 & 37 Vict., c. 86 § 24. It shall lie on the defendant to prove that the child is not of such age.
g. To be set at stake; to hang or depend on or upon a hazard, doubtful issue, etc.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. iii. 12. Full fast she fled … As if her life upon the wager lay.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, III. vii. 43. He persists As if his life lay on’t. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., III. viii. 5. Our fortune lyes Vpon this iumpe.
1668. R. Steele, Husbandman’s Calling, iv. (1672), 52. Nor … can he reform sin, if his life lay on it.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), II. 142. We entered as warmly into it [the question], as though a province had lain at stake.
h. To lie in: to consist in, to have its ground or basis in. † Also with inf. instead of in and object.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xxii. (Arb.), 265. Another point of surplusage lieth not so much in superfluitie of your words.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Faith, vii. If blisse had lien in art or strength, None but the wise or strong had gained it.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 51. But here the great art lyes to discern in what [etc.].
1724. A. Collins, Gr. Chr. Relig., 75. The argument lies in the word Netser.
a. 1770. Jortin, Serm. (1771), VII. ii. 29. The perfection of every being must lie in its best part.
1871. B. Stewart, Heat, § 84. Our only chance of success lies in abstracting heat from this liquid.
1881. Gardiner & Mullinger, Study Eng. Hist., I. iii. 48. The true remedy lay … in female education. Ibid., x. 178. Pitt’s strength lay in his character.
i. To lie in, within: to be contained or comprised in (a specified room or compass); † to admit of being expressed in (rhyme).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9240 (Gött.). Of abiud [cam] Elyachim, Of quam Asor, sadoch of him, þat loth er for to lig in rim.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 414, ¶ 1. The Beauties of the most stately Garden or Palace lie in a narrow Compass.
1771. Junius Lett., lviii. 301. The question … lies within a very narrow compass.
† j. To lie at one’s heart: to be the object of one’s affection or desire. Similarly, to lie heavy at or to one’s heart: to give one grave anxiety. Obs.
1607. Shaks., Cor., IV. ii. 48. It would vnclogge my heart Of what lyes heauy too’t.
1638. R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. II.), 32. I have something, I know not what, lies heavy at my heart.
1673. Sir W. Temple, To Dk. Ormond, Wks. 1720, I. 123. The Spaniards have but one Temptation to quarrel with Us, which is an occasion of recovering Jamaica, for that has ever lien at their hearts.
13. (Chiefly in Law.) Of an action, charge, claim, etc.: To be admissible or sustainable.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 853. Certes, þi fader þan slouȝ y. Seþþen þou so hast sayd, Amendes þer ouȝt to ly.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 409. For sythe no cause of deth lyth in this cace, Ȝow oughte to ben the lyghtere merciable.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 24 § 1. None essoyne or proteccion to lye nor to be allowed in the same.
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), 108. To consider what appeales out of the Chancery to this Courte doe lye.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., III. xlii. 277. There lyeth Excommunication for Injustice.
1712. Prideaux, Direct. Ch.-wardens (ed. 4), 75. There doth lye an Appeal to the Bishop.
1745. Wesley, Answ. Ch., 5. I should rejoice if there lay no other Objection against them, than that of Erroneous Opinions.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), VIII. 253. If not, then indeed is thy conscience seared, and no hopes will lie for thee.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., II. ix. Some or all of these objections will lie against every figure of a cross.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 430. A writ of error did not lie after he attained his full age.
1850. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. ix. (1853), 121. One from whose knowledge … there lies almost no appeal.
1865. Lightfoot, Galat. (1874), 124. Still more serious objections lie against identifying it with any later visit in the Acts.
1866. Crump, Banking, iv. 93. In which case no action for damages would lie.
† 14. Of land, landed possessions: To appertain to. Obs.
839. in Birch, Cartul. Sax., I. 599. xiiii aeceras & ða mæde þe þær to lið.
c. 1050. in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., IV. 232. Ælc ðara landa ðe on mines fæder dæʓe læʓ into Cristes cyrcean.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 28. King of þat lond þat lei into Rome.
a. 1225. Juliana, 13. Alle þe londes þe þerto liggeð.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., st. 983. A parcell of lond … Þe wheche ryȝtwyslyche to þat Abbay lay.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 29. A house, with pasture lieng to it.
1618. Bolton, Florus, I. ix. (1636), 24. Whereas they had in the beginning no Land of their owne lying to their City.
¶ III. 15. trans. Used causatively or by mistake for LAY v.1 Now rare.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 369. He was wont to legge [MS. γ lygge] his heed uppon a forme.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2101. He comands To gedire þam vp ilka gome & þam in grauys ligg.
1402. Jack Upland (Skeat), 46–7. And whan ye liggen it [your habit] besyde you, than lig ye youre religion besyde you, and ben apostatas.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), IV. 549. We shall … ly hym in the mold.
a. 1500. Medwall, Nature (Brandl), II. 1088. Thy sores whyche be mortall Onles that thys medycyns to theym be layn.
1641. Best, Farm. Bks. (Surtees), 48. That in mowinge hee neauer lye out his sheaues beyonde the balkes but rather within the balkes.
c. 1648–50. Brathwait, Barnabees Jrnl., III. P iv. I saw a Tombe one had beene laine in.
1699. Garth, Dispens., II. (1706), 16. Whilst Seas of melted oar lye waste the Plains.
a. 1703. Burkitt, On N. T., Mark iv. 41. Christ, as God, lies a law upon the most lawless creatures.
1708. J. C., Compl. Collier (1845), 18. Would they but lye their groundless pretences by.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XII. xii. The whole furniture of the infernal regions hath long been appropriated to the managers of play-houses, who seem lately to have lain them by as rubbish.
1802. Med. & Phys. Jrnl., VIII. 507. I dressed the wound, lying down as much of the scalp as [etc.].
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, I. xvi. ¶ 5. The cloth was lain. Down we sat at table.
1880. F. G. Lee, Church under Eliz., II. 245. As God had lain this peer’s honour in the dust.
IV. Combined with adverbs.
† 16. Lie aback. a. To be backward, reluctant or shy. Obs.
1560. in Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), III. 397. Not only shall any of his own pretend to disobey or ly aback in this action, but [etc.].
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., II. 148. Nathir … in tyme of neid lyes the Pechtis abak wt thair supporte.
† b. as sb. Shyness, timidity. Obs.
c. 1600. Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 1423. Sir, I have sein them baith, In braidieness and lye aback, Escape and cum to skaith.
† 17. Lie abroad. To lodge out of one’s house or abode; to reside in a foreign country (in quot. 1651 with pun on LIE v.2). Obs.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), III. 13. We might go barefoot, and ly abroad as beasts having no other canopy than the wild air.
1651. Walton, Life Sir H. Wotton, Reliq. W. c 1 b. An Embassadour is an honest man, sent to lie abroad for the good of his Countrey.
1653. Holcroft, Procopius, II. 39. He … being said to be sent to ly abroad, to prevent mischief to the Camp.
1675. Collect. Sev. Treat. Penal Laws, Pref. A iv. The Popes Ambassadors … lye abroad for his … advantage.
18. Lie along. a. To be prostrate at full length, to lie outstretched on the ground (now arch.); to extend along a surface.
1530. Palsgr., 601/1. I lye … as one lyeth alonge upon the grounde.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. i. 30. As he lay along Vnder an oake.
1734. J. Ward, Introd. Math., App. Gauging 455. To find what Quantity of Liquor is in any Cask, when its Axis is Parallel to the Horizon, viz. when it lies along.
1737. Whiston, Josephus, Antiq., VI. i. § 1. Dagon … lay along, as having fallen down from the basis whereon he had stood.
1771. Goldsm., Hist. Eng., I. 91. A cell so small, that he could neither stand erect, nor lie along in it.
1803. Beddoes, Hygëia, X. 21. Few persons, suddenly stimulated to anger as they were lying along, would continue to repose in the same easy manner.
1883. R. W. Dixon, Mano, III. vi. 129. Him who there lay dead along.
1885–94. R. Bridges, Eros & Psyche, July, xxii. The … wings, That from his shoulders lay along at rest.
b. Naut. Of a ship: To incline to one side under the pressure of a wind abeam.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), s.v. Along, Lying-Along, the state of being pressed down sideways by a weight of sail in a fresh wind that crosses the ship’s course.
1781. Archer, in Naval Chron., XI. 288. The Ship lay very much along, by the pressure of the wind.
1838. Poe, A. G. Pym, xiii. Wks. (1865), IV. 109. The hulk lay more along than ever, so that we could not stand an instant without lashing ourselves.
19. Lie back. To lean backwards against some support.
1894. Crockett, Raiders, 14. I shipped the oars and lay back thinking.
20. Lie by. † a. To have a concubine. (Cf. LIE-BY 1.) Obs.
1571. Satir. Poems Reform., xxviii. 28. My Father … had ane wyfe, Thocht he abusit his body, and lay by.
b. Naut. = lie to 28 a: see BY adv. 2 b.
1613. [see BY adv. 2 b].
1666. Lond. Gaz., No. 60/1. Our Fregats received some damage in their sails, and … were forced to ly by to mend them.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. v. 177. We lay by all the night … for Captain Saunders … to join us.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), A a a 4. To make sail, after having lain-by for some time.
c. To remain unused, be laid up in store.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 59. Let his carnall favour, and erroneous conceits ly by, let him empty himselfe of a worldly heart. Ibid., 441. Peters nets lay by when the season was.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Fables, cccclviii. 434. The … Wretchedness of Avarice, that rather then make use of the Bounties of Providence in their Seasons, suffers them to lye by and Perish.
1719. W. Wood, Surv. Trade, 74. Thriving Nations have … great Stores lying by of their own Manufactures.
1843. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., I. 254. I had … pillows lying by of no use.
d. To keep quiet, withdraw from observation; to remain inactive, rest.
1709. Addison, Tatler, No. 133, ¶ 5. To lie by for some Time in Silence and Obscurity.
1754. Richardson, Grandison, II. 53. Sir H. ‘What a plague—you did not cane him?’ Sir Ch. ‘He got well after a fortnight’s lying by.’
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, X. i. ¶ 6. We determined on lying by for a day at Valladolid, as well to rest our mules, as to call on Signor Sangrado.
1824. Scott, St. Ronan’s, xxv. I lay by on the watch for some opportunity when I might mend my own situation with my father.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxxi. 117. I must go below, and lie-by for a day or two.
1892. Law Times, XCIII. 414/1. The plaintiff had lain by, whereas he should have taken the earliest opportunity of coming to the court.
21. Lie down. a. (ME. also lie adown.) See sense 2 and DOWN adv. 5. Also refl. (now arch.). Also in pregnant senses: To fall in battle; † to die; to go to bed.
c. 1205. Lay., 6864. Seoððen he dun læi [c. 1275 deaȝede].
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1145. Þe romeins leie sone adoun; he made ampti place, & þe brutons arise vaste. Ibid., 2204. Oþer ligge adoun & be aslawe.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10711. Þan lai þai all in kneling dun.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 446. We liggen down in our den.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., ii. 326. So lig down ther and take thi rest.
1535. Coverdale, Ruth iii. contents, Ruth lyeth her downe in the barne at Boos fete. Ibid., Isa. xi. 6. The leoparde shal lye downe by the gote.
a. 1631. Donne, Poems (1650), 17. Why should we rise, because ’tis light? Did we lie downe, because ’twas night?
1774. Foote, Cozeners, III. Wks. 1799, II. 185. Mrs. Air. Pray, Madam, is the young lady at home? Mrs. Fl. Just lain down for a little.
1815. Scott, Guy M., ii. They rose early and lay down late.
1847. Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, iv. There may be anether [stag] lying down in the fern close to us.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xvi. 113. I lay down and had five minutes sleep.
1861. Dasent, Burnt Njal, II. 312. Kari lay him down.
† b. To be brought to bed of a child. Obs.
c. 1450. Merlin, 89. The kynge sawgh that the quene was redy to ly down.
1580. Lyly, Euphues, Ep. Ded. (Arb.), 214. Of the second I went a whole yeare big, and yet when euerye one thought me ready to lye downe, I did then quicken.
1620. J. Pyper, trans. Hist. Astrea, I. VI. 171. His wife lay downe, but it was of a daughter.
1654. trans. Martini’s Conq. China, 212. Matrons with Child and ready to lye down.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Fables, xxii. (1708), 29. A Wolf came to a Sow that was just lying down, and very kindly offer’d to take care of her Litter.
1818. W. Godwin, in Kegan Paul, Life (1876), II. 256. He says … that Eliza was expected to lie down in two days after he sailed.
† c. Of an army: To take up a position before.
1693. Mem. Cnt. Teckely, I. 82. This obliged Heister to demand Cannon and Foot, with whom he lay down before the Castle of Kus.
d. To take (a beating, defeat, etc.) lying down: to receive it with abject submission.
1888. Sat. Rev., 4 Aug., 133/1. Those who … profess themselves willing to take, ‘lying down,’ any and every inconvenience that the victorious Irish may inflict.
† 22. Lie forth. Of bees: To settle outside the hive. (Cf. lie out, 26 b.) Obs.
1609. C. Butler, Fem. Mon. (1634), 47. Those [hives] that have lyen forth, or otherwise be very full, you may let alone.
23. Lie in. a. To be brought to bed of a child († also const. with); to be ‘confined.’ Also fig.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 304/2. Lyyn’ yn or yn chylde bedde … decubo.
c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 42. As yet I am not determyned in what place she shall lye in.
1602. Rowlands, Tis Merrie when Gossips meete, 35. When I lay in of my first Boy.
1607. Shaks., Cor., I. iii. 86. You must go visit the good Lady that lies in.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 899. The Shee-Beare breedeth, and lyeth in with her Young.
1729–30. Bolingbroke, in Swift’s Lett. (1766), II. 105. His wife lies-in with one child.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XII. xiv. Five hungry children, and a wife lying in of a sixth.
1762. Goldsm., Cit. W., xc. They regularly retire every year at proper intervals to lie in of the spleen.
1825. New Monthly Mag., XIII. 51. Learning then ordinarily lay-in of folio volumes.
1871. Tylor, Prim. Cult., 76. ’Tis like a Koravan eating asafœtida when his wife lies in.
† b. To amount to, cost (a certain sum); ‘to stand (a person) in’ so much. Obs.
1622. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 212. Soe much money … as the tendinge and keepinge of the said clocke shall lye in.
1660. Willsford, Scales Comm., 1. A Grocer bought 53/4 C grosse weight of Wares, which lay him in … £163 13s. 8d.
1677. Yarranton, Eng. Improv., 134. The Corn will lye the Mum-Brewers in Two Shillings Six-pence per Bushel.
1755. Johnson, Lie 21, To cost; as, it lies me in more money.
c. Naut. (See quot.)
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Lie in! the order to come in from the yards when reefing, furling, or other duty is performed.
24. Lie off. a. Naut. Of a ship or boat: To stand some distance away from the shore or from some other craft.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. i. 79. The remnant Northward, lying off from Trent.
1726. G. Roberts, Four Years Voy., 26. As I lay off at an Anchor.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Lie off! an order given to a boat to remain off on her oars till permission is given for her to come alongside.
1890. Hall Caine, Bondman, I. ix. [The schooner] intending to lie off at Ramsey for contraband rum.
b. To cease work temporarily; to take a rest.
1891. R. Kipling, City Dreadf. Nt., 81. As soon as he makes a little money he lies off and spends it.
1899. Nation (N. Y.), 21 Dec., 467/1. If McKinley would lie off for the next four years, he might make a very good free-trade candidate for the Presidency in 1904.
c. Racing slang. ‘To make a waiting race’ (Farmer, Slang, 1896).
25. Lie on. † a. To be laid on. Obs.
1641–2. Shute, Sarah & Hagar (1649), 109. Upon the first laying on of the rod, it may be, we will stamp and chafe; but when it still lies on … we lie quiet, and then our spirit comes down.
b. Of a vessel: To be bound for.
1850. Tait’s Mag., XVII. 38/1. Not one [vessel] was, just then, ‘lying on’ for the Baltic way, the season being so late.
26. Lie out. † a. To stretch out, extend. Obs.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 54. Spaine and France … lying out with their promontories into two contrary seas. Ibid., 61. Corsica … lyeth out from the North into the South, and containeth in length an hundred and fiftie miles.
b. † To rest or settle outside (obs.); to sleep out, now dial. of cattle, to be left unhoused at night. Obs.
1630. J. Levett, Ord. Bees (1634), 34. Their Bees haue exceedingly lyen out upon the Hiue and board.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull, III. i. The witnesses farther made oath, that the said Timothy lay out a-nights.
1886. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., Lie in, Lie out, said of horses or cows. If they are kept housed at night, they are said to lie in, if not they lie out. Do your ’oss lie in or out?
c. Sc. To delay; spec. to delay in entering upon property as heir.
1640–1. Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 42. For his lying sae lang out in not subscryveing of the covenant.
1673–88. Fountainhall, in M. P. Brown, Suppl. Decis. (1826), III. 146. A man is married on a woman, that is apparent heir to lands.—She, to defraud her husband either of the jus mariti or the courtesy, lies out and will not enter.
1868. Act 31 & 32 Vict., c. 101 § 6. The rights and remedies competent to a superior against his vassal lying out unentered.
d. To lie it out: to sleep on late into the morning. ? Obs.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), V. 2. The dear creature was so frightened, and so fatigued, last night, no wonder she lies it out this morning.
e. To lie out of one’s money: to remain unpaid. To lie out of one’s ground (Racing slang): see quot. 1896.
1860. Geo. Eliot, Mill on Floss, I. viii. I. 151. I can’t lie out o’ my money any longer. You must raise it as quick as you can.
1892. Daily Chron., 19 April, 9/2. How can zealous discharge of this duty be expected, when the officer … has to advance the cost of the summons, and lie out of his money for a year at a time, if not for ever?
1896. Farmer, Slang, To lie out of one’s ground = to ‘lie off’ too long, so as to be unable to recover lost ground.
27. Lie over. a. To be held over or deferred to a future occasion.
1856. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., II. 294. I have a strange story to tell you … but that must lie over, or I shall miss the omnibus.
b. ‘To remain unpaid after the time when payment is due’ (Craig, 1848).
c. Naut. (See quot.)
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Lie over, a ship heeling to it with the wind abeam.
28. Lie to. a. Naut. Of a ship: To come almost to a standstill, with her head as near the wind as possible, by backing or shortening sail.
1711. Littleton, Lett., 13 Aug., in Lond. Gaz., No. 4906/3. The largest of them lay too a long time.
1748. Anson’s Voy., I. viii. 79. Another storm … reduced us to the necessity of lying to under our bare poles.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 81. We shortened sail, and lay to till morning.
1800. Asiatic. Ann. Reg., Chron., 117/2. It blew a strong gale … on which Lieut. Roper handed all his sails, except the mizen, which he balanced, and lay to.
1883. Stevenson, Treas. Isl. (1886), 212. Take a turn round the capstan, and lie-to for the tide.
b. Sc. To come to be fond of a person.
1768. Ross, Helenore, 79. I do like him sair, An’ that he wad ly too [ed. 1789, p. 85 like me], I hae nae fear.
29. Lie up. † a. To be laid out for burial.
1553. Becon, Reliques of Rome (1563), 253. Vilanye and synne yt weren vsed & done about dead bodyes ligging vp & yet is vsed about in many places, or the body be borne to church.
b. To go into or remain in retirement or retreat; to take to one’s bed or keep one’s room as an invalid; (of a ship) to go into dock.
1699. Dampier, Voy., II. III. 24. There they [ships] must lye up, or be 3 or 4 Years in their return from a place which may be sailed in 6 Weeks.
1850. Dickens, in Househ. Words, 9 Nov., 162/2 (Cent.). He has a bad cold—rheumatism—he must lie up for a day or two.
1881. Greener, Gun, 595. The black bear lies up during the day in caves and amongst rocks.
1893. R. Kipling, Many Invent., 26. When there’s nothing going on, there is nothing going on, and you lie up.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., II. 443. Some days the patient may feel comparatively well and fit for work, on other days he is languid and lies up.
c. To lie up in lavender: to be in safe keeping or custody. (Cf. LAVENDER sb.2 2.)
1822. Scott, Nigel, xxv. Alas! the good gentleman lies up in lavender … himself.
d. To lay or shape one’s course.
1779. Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 169. The land wind veered to the northward, and we lay up no better than west.
1868. Atkinson, Cleveland Gloss., Lig up to, to proceed towards, to lay or shape one’s course to, a given place.
