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.
Spear and helmets thronged, and shields
Various with boastful arguments potrayed. Milton.