"lie" antedating

[Dennis R. Preston]

JL,

This is a very common traditional Southern and
African American use of 'lie,' but I don't think
it is generally known in the US.

dInIs



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>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
>Subject:      "lie" antedating
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>OED online has a third def. of "lie,"n., that
>should be familiar to most of the Yanks
>   [i.e., -- Brit] on this list: "In weakened or
>non-pejorative sense: an anecdote, tale, ëtall
>storyí."
>
>   Its primary cite is from Zor Neale Hurston in
>1934, but here's one from an earlier age:
>
>   1862 in G. Ward Hubbs, ed. _Voices from
>Company D_ (Athens: U. of Ga. Press, 2003) 82:
>Rather disagreeable day, drizling [sic-JL] rain.
>Played cards & told lies all day.
>
>   JL
>
>
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Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of English
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Fax: (517) 353-3755
preston at msu.edu

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