bewrays

Verb

bewray (third-person singular simple present bewrays, present participle bewraying, simple past and past participle bewrayed)

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

   Synonyms:

   besmirch, denigrate, diss, assassinate, asperse, backbite, badmouth, befoul, belibel, besmear

2. (transitive) To reveal, divulge, or make (something) known; disclose.
   • Two kindes of Dogges. One which rouſeth the beaſt and continueth the chaſe. Another which ſpringeth the byrde and bewrayeth the flight by purſuite, […]1576, Iohannes [i.e., John] Caius, “The Preamble or Entraunce, into this Treatise”, in Abraham Fleming, transl., Of Englishe Dogges, the Diuersities, the Names, the Natures, and the Properties. […]...
   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.
      • He tooke hir fast betwéene his armes, and not without his shame, / Bewrayed plainly what he was and wherefore that he came.1567, Ovid, “The Seconde Booke”, in Arthur Golding, transl., The XV. Bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, Entytuled Metamorphosis, […], London: […] Willyam Seres […], →OCLC, lines 539–540
   2. (transitive) To expose or rat out (someone).
      • 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, […], →OCLC, Matthew 26:73
   3. (obsolete, transitive) To expose to harm.
      • Though thou deseruest hardly at my hands, / Yet neuer shall these lips bewray thy life.c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published...
   4. (obsolete, transitive) To expose (a deception).
      • 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

See all 7 meanings of bewray