betray
betray Lexical Profile
betray Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To be disloyal to or break faith with a person, organization, or country by aiding an enemy or violating a solemn trust.
"He refused to betray his closest friends even when pressured by the authorities."
To divulge or disclose a secret, confidence, or piece of private information in violation of trust.
"The journalist promised never to betray the identity of her confidential source."
To unintentionally reveal or show a hidden emotion, quality, or fact.
"Although she spoke calmly, a slight tremor in her voice betrayed her nervousness."
• Rhymes for betray
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English betrayen, a hybrid formation combining the native prefix be- with Old French trair ('to betray'), which derives from Latin tradere ('to hand over' or 'to deliver'), the same root that gave English 'tradition' and 'treason'.