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| WordWeight : Weighing the Words |
Portray
Pronunciation : Por*tray"
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [OE. pourtraien, OF. portraire, pourtraire, F. portraire, fr. L. protrahere, protractum, to draw or drag forth; pro forward, forth + trahere to draw. See Trace, v. t., and cf. Protract.]
Definition : 1. To paint or draw the likeness of; as, to portray a king on horseback. Take a tile, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it the city, even Jerusalem. Ezek. iv. 1.
2. Hence, figuratively, to describe in words.
3. To adorn with pictures. [R.] Spear and helmets thronged, and shields Various with boastful arguments potrayed. Milton.
t. [Written also pourtray.] [imp. & p. p. portrayed (; p. pr. & vb. n. Portraying.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
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