Hypertext Webster Gateway: "portray"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Portray \Por*tray"\, v. t. [Written also {pourtray}.] [imp. & p.
p. {portrayed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Portraying}.] [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}.]
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
portray
v 1: portray in words; "The book portrays the actor as a selfish
person"
2: make a portrait of: "showing society what it looked
like..portraying..its ugliness and its beauties.." [syn: {depict},
{limn}]
3: assume or act the character of; "She impersonates Madonna"
[syn: {impersonate}]
4: represent in a painting, drawing, sculpture, or verbally;
"The father is portrayed as a coward in this play" [syn: {present}]
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