Betray Definition
bĭ-trā
betrayed, betraying, betrays
verb
betrayed, betraying, betrays
To give aid or information to an enemy of; commit treason against.
Betray one's country.
American Heritage
To help the enemy of (one's country, cause, etc.); be a traitor to.
Webster's New World
To inform upon or deliver into the hands of an enemy in violation of a trust or allegiance.
American Heritage
To deliver or expose to an enemy traitorously.
Webster's New World
To be false or disloyal to.
Betrayed a cause; betray one's spouse.
American Heritage
Origin of Betray
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From Middle English betrayen, betraien, equivalent to be- + tray (“to betray”), from Old French traïr (“to commit treason, betray”), from Latin trādere, present active infinitive of trādō (“deliver, give over”, verb). In some senses, merged with or influenced by Middle English bewraien, bewreyen (“to reveal, divulge”), see bewray. Compare also traitor, treason, tradition.
From Wiktionary
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Middle English bitrayen bi- be- trayen to betray (from Old French trair) (from Latin trādere to hand over tradition)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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