Be*tray" (bē*trā"), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Betrayed (-trād"); p.
pr. & vb. n. Betraying.] [OE. betraien,
bitraien; pref. be- + OF. traïr 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.