Lies before captain is contained by changes (14)

I believe the answer is:

prevarications

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'lies' is the definition.
('prevarication' can be a synonym of 'lie')

'before captain is contained by changes' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'pre' (prefix meaning 'before').
'captain' becomes 'c' (this might be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
'is contained by' indicates putting letters inside.
'changes' becomes 'variations' (variation is a kind of change).
'c' inserted into 'variations' is 'varications'.
'pre'+'varications'='PREVARICATIONS'

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I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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