to bewray

9.9

To make a secret known often without meaning to

verb
/bɪˈreɪ/

Archaic

: revelar

In his speech, he bewrayed his doubts about the project.

Examples

Since they have bewrayed your doings, in secret you regard them not... you are ashamed of them now that they have disclosed your secret conference.

Academic text (2018)
Her nervousness bewrayed her true feelings during the meeting.
He accidentally bewrayed the surprise party while talking to her.

Synonyms

to expose

vsto bewray

342 4.1

Reveal hidden facts or bad actions to people

is archaic and differs by stressing accidental disclosure rather than deliberate exposure

to uncover

vsto bewray

243 3.5

Reveal secret facts to the public

is archaic and instead highlights unintentional revealing rather than planned publicity

to spill

vsto bewray

164 4.5

To reveal secret information, often by mistake

is archaic and likewise focuses on disclosure without deliberate intent

to unveil

vsto bewray

109 4.1

To make something known for the first time

is archaic and contrasts by focusing on accidental disclosure rather than ceremony

to reveal

vsto bewray

84 7.4

Make hidden truth known by a god or spirit

is archaic and differs by implying accidental human disclosure rather than intentional revelation

to betray

vsto bewray

60 4.2

To show a feeling or secret without meaning to

is an older term that likewise focuses on unintentional revealing

to let on

vsto bewray

Informal

43 6.0

To tell a secret or show feelings you were trying to hide

is archaic and specifically implies unintended revealing rather than deliberate disclosure

to let out

vsto bewray

32 3.7

Tell secret or private information to other people

is specifically archaic and usually implies accidental rather than deliberate making known

to spill the beans

vsto bewray

Informal

18 6.0

Tell a secret by accident before others know

is an older form that also stresses unintentional revealing of secrets

to disclose

vsto bewray

7 4.0

Make something visible by removing a cover

is an older term that instead centers on unintentional revealing rather than deliberate uncovering

to let slip

vsto bewray

5 5.6

Accidentally tell someone something you want to keep secret

is archaic but also emphasizes unintentional disclosure rather than intent

to let the cat out of the bag

vsto bewray

Informal

5 5.1

To tell a secret that should be kept

is archaic and shares the idea of revealing unintentionally rather than on purpose

to lift the veil

vsto bewray

4 7.1

To reveal information that was previously hidden

is archaic and emphasizes unintentional exposure rather than formal revelation

to babble

vsto bewray

3 5.3

Tell secret information carelessly to others

is archaic and shares the careless, unintentional disclosure aspect

to unwrap

vsto bewray

2 4.4

To tell people about something secret

is archaic and differs by pointing to accidental, not planned, disclosure

to lay bare

vsto bewray

2 5.5

To show something hidden so people can see it

is archaic and instead indicates accidental disclosure rather than deliberate exposing

to blow the surprise

vsto bewray

Informal

1 6.5

Tell a secret and spoil a planned surprise

is an old term that likewise denotes accidental disclosure rather than timing choice

to give the game away

vsto bewray

1 5.5

To tell a secret by accident and spoil a surprise

is archaic and similarly highlights unintended disclosure rather than planning

to unbury

vsto bewray

1 6.5

To reveal something hidden or forgotten

is archaic and instead stresses revealing unintentionally rather than deliberate recovery

to blab out

vsto bewray

Informal

1 7.9

To tell a secret carelessly or without meaning to

is an old term that likewise means unintentional exposure of facts

to babble out

vsto bewray

Informal

8.0

To tell secrets without thinking

is archaic and matches the idea of accidental, careless disclosure

Antonyms

to conceal

282 3.7

To hide something so others cannot see or find it

to suppress

176 4.8

To stop public protest by force or by people in power

How Revealing

to unmask

23 4.2

to expose

342 4.1

to disclose

234 4.1

to bewray

Archaic

9.9

to imply

367 3.5

to suggest

∞ 1.6

hint

229 1.5

Surface Forms

bewray infinitive

bewrayed past

bewrayed past participle

bewraying present participle

bewrays third person singular

Morphology

bewray = wray (opaque) = be + wray

The verb 'wray' is archaic and not familiar to modern learners, making the derivation from 'be' + 'wray' opaque.

Etymology

Bewray comes from the old prefix be- meaning 'completely' plus a root like wray that meant 'reveal', the same idea behind the word betray. So to bewray is to 'give away' a secret or show something about someone, often without meaning to.