liar
/ˈlaɪər/
noun
Origin
Old English
lēogere — a liar, a deceiver
Overview
Meaning Now
- A person who tells a lie or who habitually tells lies.
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
liere
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The word is a direct descendant of the Old English 'lēogere', which itself was formed from the verb 'lēogan'. It has maintained a negative moral weight throughout its history in the English language.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*leuganą
“to lie, tell a falsehood”
- Old English
lēogere
“a liar”
Derived from the verb lēogan (to lie).
- Middle English
liere
“a liar”
- Early Modern English
liar
“a liar”
Standardized spelling using the -ar agent suffix.
Connections
Word parts
lie
root
to tell a falsehood
-ar
suffix
agent suffix indicating a person who does something
Related across languages
German
Lügner
liar
Dutch
leugenaar
liar
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.