Be-trā'y, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. BETRAYED; p. pr. & vb. n. BETRAYING.] [O. Eng. betraie, bitraie, from be and the O. Fr. traïr, trahir, p. p. trait, Pr. trair, traïr, trahir, p. p. trait, from Lat. tradere, to give up, to betray, from trans, over, across, and dare, to give; It. tradire, to betray, Pr. tradar, trachar, to deliver, betray.] 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; to betray a trust. Jesus said unto them, the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men. Matt. xvii. 22. If the people of America ever betray their trust, their guilt will merit even greater punishment than other nations have suffered, and the indignation of Heaven. J. Adams.
- To violate the confidence of, by disclosing a secret, or that which was intrusted; to injure by treachery. “How, wouldst thou again betray me?” Milton.
- To disclose or discover, as something intended to be kept secret, or which prudence would conceal.
Be swift to hear, but cautious of your tongue, lest you betray your ignorance. Watts. 4. To mislead, or expose to inconvenience not foreseen. Genius . . . often betrays itself into great errors of judgment. Watts. 5. To show or to indicate; — said of what is not obvious at first view, or would otherwise be concealed. This river betrays its original in its name. Holwell. All the names in the country betray great antiquity. Bryant. 6. To fail in respect to reliance placed in or upon; to deceive; as, But when I rise, I shall find my legs betraying me. Johnson.