por·tray 
(pôr-trā)
(pôr-trā)tr.v. por·trayed, por·tray·ing, por·trays
1. To depict or represent pictorially; make a picture of: The painter portrays a typical country scene.
2. To describe or represent in words: The author portrays the world of the fantastically wealthy.
3. To describe or depict in a certain way: The book portrays her as hardworking and driven.
4. To represent dramatically, as on the stage: The actor portrays an obsessed lover in the film.
[Middle English portraien, from Old French portraire : por-, forth (from Latin prō-, forth; see PRO-1) + traire, to draw (from Latin trahere, to drag).]
por·traya·ble adj.
por·trayer n.