portray
[pawr-trey, pohr-]
- to make a likeness of by drawing, painting, carving, or the like.
- to depict in words; describe graphically.
- to represent dramatically, as on the stage: He portrayed Napoleon in the play.
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Origin of portray
1300–50; Middle English portrayen < Middle French portraire < Late Latin prōtrahere to depict, Latin: to draw forth, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + trahere to draw
Synonyms
See more synonyms for portray on Thesaurus.com1, 2. picture, delineate, limn.
Synonym study
1, 2. See depict.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for portrayed
Contemporary Examples
David Prowse, the actor who portrayed Darth Vader, wished to come back but had to turn down the role because of ill health.
Juiciest ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Rumors (and Some Debunked Ones)Rich Goldstein
January 3, 2015
Among the characters to be portrayed were the people I had written about—the unsung heroes of the Selma campaign.
Same goes for the comic book character “Captain America,” which Marvel announced in July would be now be portrayed as a black man.
Of course there are times when actual CIA practice would have been different from that portrayed in Homeland.
Urban America is often portrayed as a tale of two kinds of places, those that “have it” and those who do not.
Historical Examples
I have been told that never was there an Englishman on earth like the one I portrayed in my novel.
Tales of FishesZane Grey
Her disposition was sweet, and was portrayed in her countenance.
The Settlers in CanadaFrederick Marryat
It seemed to me that the whole man was portrayed in these brief remarks.
If I have portrayed the dark side of slavery, I also have painted the bright side.
Behind the ScenesElizabeth Keckley
Would that Armstrong could here be portrayed as he appeared in life.
The Negro and the NationGeorge S. Merriam
portray
- to represent in a painting, drawing, sculpture, etc; make a portrait of
- to make a verbal picture of; depict in words
- to play the part of (a character) in a play or film
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Word Origin
C14: from Old French portraire to depict, from Latin prōtrahere to drag forth, bring to light, from pro- 1 + trahere to drag
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for portrayed
portray
v.
mid-13c., "to draw, paint" (something), from Anglo-French purtraire, Old French portraire "to draw, to paint, portray" (12c.), literally "trace, draw forth," from por- "forth" (from Latin pro-; see pro-) + traire "trace, draw," from Latin trahere "to drag, draw" (see tract (n.1)). Meaning "depict in words, describe" is from late 14c. Related: Portrayed; portraying.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper