- betray
- be|tray [bıˈtreı] v [T]▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(friends)¦2¦(country)¦3¦(emotions)¦4¦(truth)¦5 betray your beliefs/principles/ideals etc▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: tray 'to betray' (13-16 centuries), from Old French traïr, from Latin tradere; TRAITOR]1.) ¦(FRIENDS)¦to be disloyal to someone who trusts you so that they are harmed or upset▪ He felt that she had betrayed him.betray sb to sb▪ What kind of man would betray his own sister to the police?▪ She had betrayed her parents' trust .▪ I would never betray a confidence (=tell a secret which someone has trusted me with) .2.) ¦(COUNTRY)¦to be disloyal to your country, company etc, for example by giving secret information to its enemies▪ people who betray their country for money3.) ¦(EMOTIONS)¦ [not in progressive or passive]to show feelings that you are trying to hide= ↑give away▪ His voice betrayed his nervousness.▪ His face betrayed nothing (=showed no emotion) .4.) ¦(TRUTH)¦to show that something is true or exists, especially when it is not easily noticed= ↑give away▪ The slightest sound might betray his presence .▪ The crumpled sheets betrayed the fact that someone had been sleeping there.5.) betray your beliefs/principles/ideals etcto stop supporting your old beliefs and principles, especially in order to get power or avoid trouble>betrayer n
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.