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tr.v. be·trayed, be·tray·ing, be·trays 1. a. To give aid or information to an enemy of; commit treason against: betray one's country. b. To inform upon or deliver into the hands of an enemy in violation of a trust or allegiance: "City investigators betrayed him to his bosses as a whistle-blower" (Selwyn Raab). 2. To be false or disloyal to: betrayed a cause; betray one's spouse. 3. To divulge in a breach of confidence: betray a secret. 4. To make known unintentionally: Her hollow laugh betrayed her contempt for the idea. 5. To lead astray; deceive: "She felt somewhat like a woman who in a moment of passion is betrayed into an act of infidelity" (Kate Chopin). [Middle English bitraien : bi-, be- + traien, to betray (from Old French trair, from Latin trādere, to hand over; see TRADITION).] be·trayal n. be·trayer n. |
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