Usage question. On Fox, I believe I heard an anchor say he was going to lie "in state" and then correct himself and say he is to "repose". Can any Freeper fill me on on the linguistic hair splitting. Shades of 'gravitas' !
Great question, wish I knew the answer. I need to find my expert on such things!
Lying in "repose" is when the remains of a deceased person, often one of some stature, are available for viewing by the public.
This is different from "lying in state," the latter term refers to a formal honour, generally in the principal government building of a country and accompanied by an honor guard.
Also, (I am not sure) I believe that a public figure lying "in state" must be in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building, in addition to the definition listed above.