betray definition | Dictionary.com

be⋅tray

[bi-trey]

–verb (used with object)

1.	to deliver or expose to an enemy by treachery or disloyalty: Benedict Arnold betrayed his country.

2.	to be unfaithful in guarding, maintaining, or fulfilling: to betray a trust.

3.	to disappoint the hopes or expectations of; be disloyal to: to betray one's friends.

4.	to reveal or disclose in violation of confidence: to betray a secret.

5.	to reveal unconsciously (something one would preferably conceal): Her nervousness betrays her insecurity.

6.	to show or exhibit; reveal; disclose: an unfeeling remark that betrays his lack of concern.

7.	to deceive, misguide, or corrupt: a young lawyer betrayed by political ambitions into irreparable folly.

8.	to seduce and desert.

Origin:
1200–50; ME bitraien, equiv. to bi- be- + traien < OF trair < L trādere to betray. See traitor

Related forms:

be⋅tray⋅al, noun

be⋅tray⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
4. bare, expose, tell, divulge. 6. display, manifest, expose, uncover.

Antonyms:
4, 6. hide, conceal.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To betray

be·tray (bĭ-trā')

tr.v. be·trayed, be·tray·ing, be·trays

1. To give aid or information to an enemy of; commit treason against: betray one's country.
2. To deliver into the hands of an enemy in violation of a trust or allegiance: betrayed Christ to the Romans.
To be false or disloyal to: betrayed their cause; betray one's better nature.
To divulge in a breach of confidence: betray a secret.
To make known unintentionally: Her hollow laugh betrayed her contempt for the idea.
To reveal against one's desire or will.
To lead astray; deceive. See Synonyms at deceive.

[Middle English bitrayen : bi-, be- + trayen, to betray (from Old French trair, from Latin trādere, to hand over; see tradition).]
be·tray'al n., be·tray'er n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Betray

Be*tray"\ (b[-e]*tr[=a]"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrayed (-tr[=a]d"); p. pr. & vb. n. Betraying.] [OE. betraien, bitraien; pref. be- + OF. tra["i]r to betray, F. trahir, fr. L. tradere. See Traitor.]

1. To deliver into the hands of an enemy by treachery or fraud, in violation of trust; to give up treacherously or faithlessly; as, an officer betrayed the city.

Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men. --Matt. xvii. 22.

2. To prove faithless or treacherous to, as to a trust or one who trusts; to be false to; to deceive; as, to betray a person or a cause.

But when I rise, I shall find my legs betraying me. --Johnson.

3. To violate the confidence of, by disclosing a secret, or that which one is bound in honor not to make known.

Willing to serve or betray any government for hire. --Macaulay.

4. To disclose or discover, as something which prudence would conceal; to reveal unintentionally.

Be swift to hear, but cautious of your tongue, lest you betray your ignorance. --T. Watts.

5. To mislead; to expose to inconvenience not foreseen to lead into error or sin.

Genius . . . often betrays itself into great errors. --T. Watts.

6. To lead astray, as a maiden; to seduce (as under promise of marriage) and then abandon.

7. To show or to indicate; -- said of what is not obvious at first, or would otherwise be concealed.

All the names in the country betray great antiquity. --Bryant.

Language Translation for : betray

Spanish: traicionar,

German: verraten,

Japanese: 裏切る

More Translations »

betray

c.1275, bitrayen "mislead, deceive, betray," from M.E. be- + O.Fr. traien, from L. tradere "hand over," from trans- "across" + dare "to give" (see date (1)).

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