Or is a white lie a lie you tell to white people so they don't destroy your life?

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[–] [S] 4 points 2 years ago

Ah yes it turns out the etymology is the classic "white good, black evil":

The Oxford English Dictionary traces the full word back to a 14th-century letter: “I do assure you he is vnsusspected of any vntruithe or oder notable cryme (excepte a white lye) wiche is taken for a Small fawte in thes partes”

(side note: I unironically enjoy how spelling was entirely vibes-based in middle english)

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