wunder · Library

Part 627

The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section a and B · Project Gutenberg — chapter 627 of 897 · ~515 words · public domain

Read in the Wunder reader — free

Be*trap" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrapped (&?;).] 1. To draw into, or catch in, a trap; to insnare; to circumvent. Gower.

2. To put trappings on; to clothe; to deck.

After them followed two other chariots covered with red satin, and the horses betrapped with the same. Stow.

<! p. 141 !>

Be*tray" (b*tr"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrayed (-trd"); 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.

Be*tray"al (&?;) n. The act or the result of betraying.

Be*tray"er (&?;), n. One who, or that which, betrays.

Be*tray"ment (&?;), n. Betrayal. [R.] Udall.

Be*trim" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrimmed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Betrimming.] To set in order; to adorn; to deck, to embellish; to trim. Shak.

Be*troth" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrothed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Betrothing.] [Pref. be- + troth, i. e., truth. See Truth.] 1. To contract to any one for a marriage; to engage or promise in order to marriage; to affiance; -- used esp. of a woman.

He, in the first flower of my freshest age, Betrothed me unto the only heir. Spenser.

Ay, and we are betrothed. Shak.

2. To promise to take (as a future spouse); to plight one's troth to.

What man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? Deut. xx. 7.

3. To nominate to a bishopric, in order to consecration. Ayliffe.

Be*troth"al (&?;), n. The act of betrothing, or the fact of being betrothed; a mutual promise, engagement, or contract for a future marriage between the persons betrothed; betrothment; affiance. "The feast of betrothal." Longfellow.

← Previous chapterAll chaptersNext chapter →

The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section a and B · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.

© 2026 Wunder Learning LLC · Terms & Privacy