overlie

American  

[oh-ver-lahy] / ˌoʊ vərˈlaɪ /

verb (used with object)

overlies, present (3rd person singular) overlay, past overlain, past participle overlying present participle

1. to lie over or upon, as a covering or stratum.

2. to smother (an infant) by lying on them, as in sleep.

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overlie British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈlaɪ /

verb

1. to lie or rest upon Compare overlay

2. to kill (a baby or newborn animal) by lying upon it

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• overlying
  present
• overlain
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• overlie
  simple
• overlies
  simple
• have overlain
  perfect
• has overlain
  perfect
• am overlying
  progressive
• are overlying
  progressive
• is overlying
  progressive
• have been overlying
  perfect progressive
• has been overlying
  perfect progressive

Past

• overlay
  simple
• had overlain
  perfect
• was overlying
  progressive
• were overlying
  progressive
• had been overlying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will overlie
  simple
• will have overlain
  perfect
• will be overlying
  progressive
• will have been overlying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of overlie

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English overlien, overliggen; see over-, lie ²