beˈray, v. Obs. or arch.
Forms: 6 beraye, (berey), 6–7 beray, 7–9 erron. bewray. pa. tense and pa. pple.: 6–7 beraid, -raied, -rayed.
[f. be- 2 + ray v. (aphetic form of array: cf. for the sense array v. 10). Generally mis-spelt by modern writers through erroneous confusion with bewray.]
Hence berayed ppl. a.
1. trans. To disfigure, dirty, defile, befoul (with dirt, filth, ordure).
| 1530 Palsgr. 449/1 You have berayed your gowne with myer. 1570 Holinshed Scot. Chron. (1806) I. 296 The King was slaine..and the bed all beraied with bloud. 1678 N. Wanley Wonders v. ii. §28. 470/1 When he was Baptized, he berayed the Font. 1670 Ray Prov. (T.) It is an ill bird that berays its own nest. 1701 De Foe True-born Englishm. Pref. 1, I am tax'd with Bewraying my own Nest. 1863 Sala Capt. Dangerous I. vii. 190 His Countenance and his Raiment were all smirched and bewrayed with dabs and patches of what seemed soot. |
b. refl. and intr.
| 1561 J. Awdelay Frat. Vacab. 13 This knave berayeth many tymes in the corners of his maisters chamber. 1611 Cotgr. s.v. Arc, To be beshitten; to beray himselfe. 1649 R. Hodges Plain. Direct. 27 The childe did bewray, that hee would beray himself. |
2. fig. To befoul, stain, disfigure; to asperse, to cover with abuse.
| 1576 Gascoigne Steele Gl. (Arb.) 56 Wherein I see a quicke capacitye Berayde with blots of light Inconstancie. 1602 Return fr. Parnass. iv. v. (Arb.) 58 Our fellow Shakespeare hath giuen him a purge that made him beray his credit. 1863 Sala Capt. Dangerous I. x. 287 [She] did so bemaul and bewray Madam Macphilader with her tongue. |