wray
See also: wraþ
English
Alternative forms
- wreye (obsolete)
Etymology
From Middle English wrayen, wraien, wreien (“to show, make known, accuse”), from Old English wrēġan (“to urge, incite, stir up, accuse, impeach”), from Proto-Germanic *wrōgijaną (“to tell; tell on; announce; accuse”), from Proto-Indo-European *were-, *wrē- (“to tell; speak; shout”). Akin to Dutch wroegen (“to blame”), German rügen (“to reprove”), Swedish röja (“to bewray; reveal; expose”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɹeɪ/
- Rhymes: -eɪ
Verb
wray (third-person singular simple present wrays, present participle wraying, simple past and past participle wrayed)
- (obsolete) To denounce (a person).
- (obsolete) To reveal (a secret).
- 1387-1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, "The Franklin's Tale", Canterbury Tales
- no thyng dorste he seye, / Save in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye / His wo
- 1387-1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, "The Franklin's Tale", Canterbury Tales
- (obsolete) To betray.
- 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Myllers Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], OCLC 230972125; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, OCLC 932884868:
- Thou shalt upon thy trouthe swere me heere
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
- That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye.
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Related terms
- bewray
Anagrams
- awry, wary