betray

Meaning

To deliver into the hands of an enemy by treachery or fraud, in violation of trust; to give up treacherously or faithlessly.
To prove faithless or treacherous to, as to a trust or one who trusts; to be false to; to deceive.
To violate the confidence of, by disclosing a secret, or that which one is bound in honor not to make known.
To disclose or indicate, for example something which prudence would conceal; to reveal unintentionally.
To mislead; to expose to inconvenience not foreseen; to lead into error or sin.
To lead astray; to seduce (as under promise of marriage) and then abandon.

From Middle English betrayen, betraien, from Middle English bi- + traien, the second part is from Old French traïr ("to commit treason, betray"), from Latin trādō.
bi- is from Old English be- ("be-"), from Proto-Germanic *bi- ("be-"), from Proto-Germanic *bi ("near, by"), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi ("at, near"). Equivalent to be- + tray. Compare also traitor, treason, tradition. The modern sense is due to influence from or merger with English bewray, which is similar in sound and meaning. The similarity with German betrügen, Dutch bedriegen, from Proto-West Germanic *bidreugan, is coincidental.

Explore and search massive catalog of over 900,000 word meanings.

Get a curated memorable word every day.

Level up your vocabulary by setting personal goals.

Try out Vedaist now.