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tr.v. por·trayed, por·tray·ing, por·trays 1. To depict or represent pictorially; make a picture of: The painter portrays a typical country scene. 2. To describe or represent in words: The author portrays the world of the fantastically wealthy. 3. To describe or depict in a certain way: The book portrays her as hardworking and driven. 4. To represent dramatically, as on the stage: The actor portrays an obsessed lover in the film. [Middle English portraien, from Old French portraire : por-, forth (from Latin prō-, forth; see PRO-1) + traire, to draw (from Latin trahere, to drag).] por·traya·ble adj. por·trayer n. |
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