lie in state

lie in state

Of a deceased person's body, to be on public display so that citizens are able to mourn before the body is buried. The body of the ruthless dictator lay in state for two weeks, and public mourning was enforced by his son, who has taken over the leadership position.

See also: lie, state

lie in state

[for a dead body] to be on display for public mourning. The president will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. Mourners filed past the leader where he lay in state.

See also: lie, state

lie in state

see under in state.

See also: lie, state

lie in state

(of the corpse of a person of national importance) be laid in a public place of honour before burial.

See also: lie, state

lie in ˈstate

(of the body of an important person) be placed for people to see before it is buried

See also: lie, state