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Belie vs Prevaricate - What's the difference?

belie | prevaricate |

In lang=en terms the difference between belie and prevaricate

is that belie is to contradict, to show (something) to be false while prevaricate is to shift or turn from direct speech or behaviour; to evade the truth; to waffle or be (intentionally) ambiguous.

As verbs the difference between belie and prevaricate

is that belie is (obsolete) to lie around; encompass or belie can be to tell lies about; to slander while prevaricate is (transitive|intransitive|obsolete) to deviate, transgress; to go astray (from).

belie

English

Alternative forms

*

Etymology 1

From (etyl) belyen, beliggen, from (etyl) belicgan, . Cognate with German beliegen.

Verb

  • (obsolete) To lie around; encompass.
  • (transitive, obsolete, of an army) To surround; beleaguer.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) belyen, .

    Verb

  • To tell lies about; to slander.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Thou dost belie him, Percy, thou dost belie him.
  • To give a false representation of, to misrepresent.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Should I do so, I should belie my thoughts.
  • *, II.2.6.iv:
    • He found it by experience, and made good use of it in his own person, if Plutarch belie him not […].
  • To contradict, to show (something) to be false.
  • * Dryden
    • Their trembling hearts belie their boastful tongues.
    Her obvious nervousness belied what she said.
  • To be shown false by contradicting (something) that is true; to conceal the contradictory or ironic presence of (something).
  • * 2013 , Elizabeth Koh, "Fighting Pest, Farmers Find Strange Ally: A Drought," New York Times, August 31, 2013
    • The rosy outlook belies a struggle to achieve statewide eradication that has persisted since the insect first crossed the border from Mexico around 1892.
    His calm demeanor belied his inner sense of guilt.
  • To show, evince, demonstrate: to show (something) to be present, particularly something deemed contradictory or ironic.
  • * 1993 , Carol A. Mossman, Politics and Narratives of Birth: Gynocolonization from Rousseau to Zola , Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-41586-6, page 28:
    • A host of evidence is adduced by the accused, evidence whose sometimes self-contradictory nature belies a certain desperation.
  • (obsolete) To mimic; to counterfeit.
    • (Dryden)
  • (obsolete) To fill with lies.
  • * Shakespeare
    • The breath of slander doth belie all corners of the world.
    Synonyms
    * (to give a false representation) misrepresent * (to tell lies about) calumniate * (to contradict or show to be false) contradict, give lie to, give the lie to

    prevaricate

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Verb

    (prevaricat)
  • (transitive, intransitive, obsolete) To deviate, transgress; to go astray (from).
  • To shift or turn from direct speech or behaviour; to evade the truth; to waffle or be (intentionally) ambiguous.
    • The people saw the politician prevaricate every day.
  • (legal) To collude, as where an informer colludes with the defendant, and makes a sham prosecution.
  • (legal, UK) To undertake something falsely and deceitfully, with the purpose of defeating or destroying it.

    • Derived terms

    * prevarication * prevaricator

    See also

    * lie ----