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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BELIE, v. To deceive by lying. Long obs. in Eng. and phs. in quot. due to a misunderstanding of the construction of the word, phs. also influenced by beguile.e.Lth. 1912 J. P. Reid Skipper's Daughters 110–1:
I wadna belie you. It's the truth I'm tellin'. . . . Ostensibly to make sure that the Skipper had not belied him.

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