Definition of "bewray"

(transitive, archaic) To accuse; malign; speak evil of.

(transitive) To reveal, divulge, or make (something) known; disclose.  quotations

1. (transitive) To reveal or disclose and show the presence or true character of, especially if unintentionally or incidentally, or else if perfidiously, prejudicially, or to one's discredit.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • He tooke hir fast betwéene his armes, and not without his shame,Bewrayed plainly what he was and wherefore that he came.

     1567, Arthur Golding, transl., The XV. Bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, entytuled Metamorphosis‎, Book 2, lines 539-40, p. 21

   • But to put you out of doubt that my wits were not all this while a wol-gathering, I was debating with my selfe whether in loue, it wer better to be constant, bewraying all the counsayles, or secret, being readye euery houre to flinch:

     1580, John Lyly, Euphues and his England‎, London: Gabriell Cawood, page 100

   • Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy Liege, Whom thou obeyedst thirty and six years, And not bewray thy treason with a blush?

     1591, William Shakespeare, Henry VI, part III

   • Should we be silent and not speak, our raimentAnd state of bodies would bewray what lifeWe have led since thy exile.

     c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene iii]

   • And the lily gleam white, where the lakelets flow,And the trailing arbutus shroud its grace,Till fragrance bewrayed its hiding-place,

     1841, Lydia Sigourney, Pocahontas and Other Poems (New York edition), Native Scenery, page 50

   • His very speeches bewray the man – intensely human, frank and single-hearted

     1905 August 22, The Times, page 6, col. A

2. (transitive) To expose or rat out (someone).  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

     1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Matthew 26:73

   • While this busy search was diligently applied and put in execution, Humphrey Banaster (were it more for fear of loss of life and goods, or attracted and provoked by the avaricious desire of the thousand pounds) he bewrayed his guest and master to John Mitton, then Sheriff of Shropshire, [...]

     1846, Introduction to Letter 40 in Henry Ellis (editor), Original Letters, Illustrative of English History, Third Series, Volume I, London: Richard Bentley, p. 100

   • I fear that if I was to attempt to detain you at length my speech would bewray me, and you would discover I was not that master of professional allusions which you might expect me to be.

     1890 June 16, The Times, page 8, col. A

   • One Scripture rule, at least, was unforgot; / He hid the outcast, and bewrayed him not; […]

     1892, John Greenleaf Whittier, “The Pennsylvania Pilgrim”, in The Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier […], volumes I (Narrative and Legendary Poems), Boston, Mass., New York, N.Y.: Houghton Mifflin and Company […], page 328

3. (transitive, obsolete) To expose to harm.  quotations

   Quotations

   • Though thou deseruest hardly at my hands,Yet neuer shall these lips bewray thy life.

     c. 1589–1590, Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Ievv of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, Act III

4. (transitive, obsolete) To expose (a deception).  quotations

   Quotations

   • They place affection by times, by pollicy, by appoyntment, if they frowne, who dares call them vnconstant, if bewray secrets, who will tearme them vntrue, if fall to other loues, who trembles not, if he call them vnfaithfull.

     1581, John Lyly, Campaspe: Played Beefore the Queenes Maiestie on Twelfe Day at Night

   • For I was sore afraid of my Brothers, because they had all conspired together to kill him with the Sword that should bewray that Secret.

     1731, The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, the Sons of Jacob, page 74

   • For to discover this matter the better, he saith consequently: That the nature of virtuous men and those who have noble bringing up, is directly opposite unto that of long-tongued persons; and joining the reasons by which a man ought not to bewray his secret, together with those evils and inconveniences which curiosity and much babble do bring, and confirming all by fine similitudes and notable examples: ....

     1927, Plutarch (Philemon Holland), Plutarch's Moralia - Part 1, page 244

(obsolete) To soil or befoul; to beray.  quotations