† wrayv.1
Obsolete.
1. reflexive.c1100 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (MS. D) ann. 1076 Walþeof eorl ferde ofer sæ & wreide hine sylfne & bæd forgyfenysse.c1175 Lamb. Hom. 27 Ȝif þu wreiest þe seolfen to þine scrifte.?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 224 Mon schal wreiȝen him ischrift.a1300 Cursor Mundi 26706 Qua wil noght him~seluen wrei..nu ar he dei.c1460 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Laud) l. 16466 Tho hym rewid of his rese and went hym-self to wry [a1400 Vesp. wrei, Gött. wri, Trin. Cambr. wreȝe].figurative.?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 227 Þochtes mungunge. wreiȝe him & bi cleopie him of misliche sunnen.a1400 in Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. 741 In bremful bale he schal hit by, When concience his werk schal wrye.figurative.a1200 Vices & Virtues 141 Ȝif ure hierte..us ne undernemeð naht ne ne wreihð of nane senne.reflexive.a1300 Cursor Mundi 26668 Þat þou..wrei þi-self and oþer noght O þi wicked werkes wroght.
a. To accuse, denounce, or inform on (a person); to expose (one) by revealing or divulging information, etc., to one's harm, prejudice, or discredit; to charge with a crime, offence, fault, etc.; = bewray v. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > accusation, charge > accuse [verb (intransitive)]
wrayc725
mean?c1225
accusec1384
surmise1528
incuse1570
object1611
appeacha1616
aggravate1672
finger-point1959
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > accusation, charge > accuse [verb (reflexive)]
wrayc725
complainc1449
reproach1643
recriminate1812
society > communication > information > informing on or against > inform on or against [verb (transitive)]
wrayc725
meldeOE
bimeldena1300
forgabc1394
to blow up?a1400
outsay?a1400
detectc1449
denounce1485
ascry1523
inform1526
promote1550
peach1570
blow1575
impeach1617
wheedle1710
split1795
snitch1801
cheep1831
squeal1846
to put away1858
spot1864
report1869
squawk1872
nose1875
finger1877
ruck1884
to turn over1890
to gag on1891
shop1895
pool1907
run1909
peep1911
pot1911
copper1923
finger1929
rat1932
to blow the whistle on1934
grass1936
rat1969
to put in1975
turn1977
society > law > administration of justice > general proceedings > accusation, allegation, or indictment > charge, accuse, or indict [verb (transitive)]
wrayc725
forwrayOE
beclepec1030
challenge?c1225
indict1303
appeachc1315
aditea1325
appeal1366
impeachc1380
reprovea1382
arraigna1400
calla1400
raign?a1425
to put upa1438
present?a1439
ditec1440
detectc1449
articlec1450
billc1450
peach1465
attach1480
denounce1485
aret1487
accusea1500
filea1500
delate1515
crimea1550
panel1560
articulate1563
prosecute1579
impleada1600
to have up1605
reprosecute1622
tainta1625
criminatea1646
affect1726
to pull up1799
rap1904
run1909
c725 Corpus Gloss. (Hessels) D 74 Defferuntur, meldadun uel wroegdum.
a900 Old Eng. Martyrol. 10 Dec. 216 Ic cume eft on domes dæg ond þe þonne wrege beforan Crystes þrymsetle.
c1000 Ælfric Lives Saints ii. 184 Færde þa ardlice..to þam heah-geræfan..and begann hi to wrægenne.
a1122 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) ann. 1069 Her man wrægde ðone biscop Ægelric on Burh, & sense hine to West mynstre.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 29 Ne mei þe deofel þe wreien on þan oðre liue.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2889 He [sc. Joseph] wass ædmod. & milde. I þatt tatt he ne wollde nohht Vnnshaþiȝ wimmann wreȝhenn.
c1275 Passion of our Lord 84 in Old Eng. Misc. 39 Þe maystres of þe temple..For to vndernyme vre louerd..were euer abute..Þet heo hynemyhte wreye and don of lyf-daye.
c1330 Amis & Amil. 1090 Than told Sir Amis al that cas..And hou the steward gan hem wrain.
13.. Gosp. Nicodemus (Galba) 204 Pilat..seþin to þe iewes..sayd: ‘Ȝe wrigh him wrangwisly’.
c1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 2859 Sho hyr talde..How wikkedly that sho was wreghed, And how that traytyrs on hir leghed.
c1450 Northern Passion (MS. Ad.) 609 Þe Iewes..ledde hym..vn to..cayphase And by fore hyme þay gune hym wrye.
1480 W. Caxton Trevisa's Higden (1482) 167 b Cithero..borwede of one scilla, but he was wryed er þe bargayne was made.
b. Const. to (another), of (a thing).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (reflexive)] > confess
wraya900
a900 Old Eng. Martyrol. 8 Nov. 202 Þa wregdon þa oðre cræftigan hy to þam casere.
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) xxiii. 14 Ic nanne intingan findan ne mæg on þisum men of þam þe ge hine wregað.
c1132 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) ann. 1132 Þa com Henri abbot & uureide þe muneces of Burch to þe king.
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 76 He was sone iwreied to ðe kinge salomon.
c1308 Pol. Songs (Camden) 200 Ic am i-wreiid, Sire, to the, For that ilk gilt.
c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 3303 Here wil we no longer duelle: To þemperour y-wraid we beþ.
c1400 Pepysian Gosp. Harmony 95 Þe Jewes euerichon bigonnen hyn to wryen of many þinges.
c1450 Mirour Saluacioun (Roxb.) 134 Antipater..was wryed to the Emperoure Julian.
2. To declare or assert (something about another) by way of accusation or denunciation; to bring forward as a charge.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > general proceedings > accusation, allegation, or indictment > charge, accuse, or indict [verb (transitive)] > bring (a charge or accusation) > bring as a charge
wraya900
surmisec1460
aggravate1541
indicta1670
charge1785
a900 Old Eng. Martyrol. 25 Aug. 152 Þa foron þa hæðnan bisceopas ond þæt wregdon to þæs kyninges breðer.
c1000 Ælfric Homilies I. 478 Þæt folc wrehton his modignysse to ðam casere.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 416 Þatt fand mann nan þing upp onn hemm To wreȝenn. ne to tælenn.
c1350 Northern Passion (1916) II. 128 Somme..folwede [Jesus] þinges to here; Wat þey miȝte on him leye To þe Iuws vorto wrey.
3. To reveal or disclose (something secret) perfidiously or prejudicially; to divulge with breach of trust; to betray; = bewray v. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)] > secrets > prejudicially
wraya1300
bewrayc1386
descrya1400
blab1594
betray1598
sell1831
peach1852
a1300 Cursor Mundi 26690 Þat þou sa wrei aun dede, Þat na soigne be for þe lede.
c1330 Arth. & Merl. 3656 Non com oȝain..To wray þe kinges parlement.
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. VI. 281 But his counsaile was i-wried, and he was..i-closed in an abbay.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum xvi. lxxxiii. (Tollem. MS.) Quyrin..; þis ston wryeþ and discouereþ in slep counsel and priuite.
c1400 Laud Troy Bk. 3546 Priamus has..spies That ȝoure consayl to him wries.
c1465 Eng. Chron. (Camden) 21 As sone as the said lordez wiste that thair counselle was discovered and wraid, they fledde.
1563 W. Baldwin et al. Myrrour for Magistrates (new ed.) Hastings xlvii Alas, are counsels wryed to catch the goode?
1576 G. Gascoigne Steele Glas 128 Cut out my tong,..Least I should wraye this bloudy deede of his.
4. in extended use.c1374 G. Chaucer Compl. Mars 91 Alas I dye; the torche is come that al this world wol wrie.1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Tollem. MS) x. v Leye bischineþ derke þinges, and wryeþ þinges þat ben hidde, and makeþ hem knowe.
a. gen. To reveal, disclose, or divulge (some fact, etc.); to declare, communicate, or make known; = bewray v. 4.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)]
unwryc825
unhelec1000
to draw forthc1175
unhillc1200
to bring forth?c1225
unsteekc1250
let witc1275
uncovera1300
wraya1300
knowc1300
barea1325
shrivec1374
unwrapc1374
again-covera1382
nakena1382
outc1390
tellc1390
disclosea1393
cough1393
unhidea1400
unclosec1400
unhaspc1400
bewrayc1405
reveal1409
accusea1413
reveil1424
unlocka1425
unrekec1425
disclude?1440
uncurec1440
utter1444
detect1447
break1463
expose1483
divinec1500
revelate1514
to bring (also put) to light1526
decipher1529
rake1547
rip1549
unshadow1550
to lay to sight1563
uppen1565
unlace1567
unvisor?1571
resign1572
uncloak1574
disshroud1577
spill1577
reap1578
unrip1579
scour1585
unharboura1586
unmask1586
uncase1587
descrya1591
unclasp?1592
unrive1592
discover1594
unburden1594
untomb1594
unhusk1596
dismask1598
to open upc1600
untruss1600
divulge1602
unshale1606
unbrace1607
unveil1609
rave1610
disveil1611
unface1611
unsecret1612
unvizard1620
to open up1624
uncurtain1628
unscreen1628
unbare1630
disenvelop1632
unclothe1632
to lay forth1633
unshroud1633
unmuffle1637
midwife1638
dissecret1640
unseal1640
unmantle1643
to fetch out1644
undisguise1655
disvelop1658
decorticate1660
clash1667
exert1692
disinter1711
to up with1715
unbundlea1739
develop1741
disembosom1745
to open out1814
to let out1833
unsack1846
uncrown1849
to bring (out) in (also into) the open1861
unfrock1866
disbosom1868
to blow the lid off1928
flush1950
surface1955
to take or pull the wraps off1964
society > communication > information > intimation or making known > intimate or make known (something) [verb (transitive)]
speakc825
areadc885
meldeOE
sayOE
yknowa1225
warnc1275
bekena1300
wraya1300
signifyc1325
declarec1340
to speak outc1384
discuss1389
notifyc1390
bida1400
advertise1447
notice1447
detectc1465
render1481
minister1536
to set outa1540
summonc1540
intimate1548
acquaint1609
phrase1614
voice1629
denote1660
unlade1717
apprise1817
aira1902
a1300 Floriz & Bl. (Cambr.) 533 Hele ihc wulle, and noþing wreie, Ower beire cumpaignie.
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 236 In his songes som what wolde he wreye His wo as in a general compleynyng.
c1480 (a1400) St. Mary of Egypt 1446 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 338 Ilke ȝere solempnyt fest..þai mad, [one] þat day scho deyt, fra þat he hyre lyf had wreyt.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid ix. iii. 5 The deid is auld for to beleif or wry, Bot the memor remanis perpetually.
1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. G.iiiiv Your sighes yow fet from farre, And all to wry your wo.
1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 136v Then gan hee wrie his former loue, And all his flame vnfolde.
b. Const. with clause. rare.
ΚΠ
1575 G. Gascoigne Poesies in Wks. (1907) I. 23 In thundring verse he wrayes, where highest mindes be thrall.
5.
a. To reveal or make known the presence of (a person); to expose; = bewray v. 5.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)] > the presence or identity of
wrayc1290
discoverc1330
unmask1582
c1290 Beket 1214 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 141 With him a-morewe he nam His oste, þat he ne scholde him wreiȝe forto he aftur weie cam.
a1400 Sir Beues (A.) 1675 And for þai scholde him nouȝt wrain, Vnder his hond he made him pai.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1706 Þay sued hym fast, Wreȝande h[ym] ful [w]eterly with a wroth noyse.
c1400 Laud Troy Bk. 18341 To an..old tour..He hyed hem with mechel hast For drede lest thei were y-wraied.
b. To put (a person) in the power of an enemy or opponent by disloyalty or treachery; to betray.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > betrayal > betray [verb (transitive)]
sellc950
forredea1000
belewec1000
trechec1230
betrayc1275
trayc1275
wrayc1275
traise1320
trechetc1330
betradec1375
betraisec1386
bewray1535
betrantc1540
boil1602
reveal1640
peacha1689
bridge1819
to go back on (also upon)1859
to sell (a person) down the river1921
c1275 XI Pains of Hell 111 in Old Eng. Misc. 150 He..þat wreyeþ his sibbe oþer him fled Abuuen his eyen þe flod geþ.
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. V. 117 He was i-wreyed by þe same douȝter Fausta..and fliȝ to Marcil.
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. V. 157 Þere he was i-wreyed wiþ [= by] a wenche.
c. To expose (a person) by revealing some hidden fact or private matter.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)] > secrets > prejudicially > a person
bewrayc1300
wrayc1340
c1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 5460–2 Als stolne thyng wreghes a thefe funden, When it es obout his neke..bounden, Right swa þair syns sal wreghe þam þar.
c1400 T. Chestre Launfal 147 Thane seyde syr Launfal.., Tell ye no man of my poverte... The knyghtes answerede and seyde tho, That they nolde him wreye never mo.
c1400 Rule St. Benet (Prose) 36 Wreȝ hir noht þat te þing es sent to.
a1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 62 As a theef wol be gladde there as he ys hidde, and not be wrayed of his thefte.
a1500 Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (?1510) sig. G j Yf thou thy frende it sey, And wenyst he shal the not wrey.
6. To reveal, disclose, or discover the true character of; to show or expose the existence or presence of (something desired to be concealed); to betray; = bewray v. 6.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)] > the true character or identity of
utter1526
wray1576
convince1583
strip1619
dispersonate1624
convict1717
to show up1821
out1990
1576 G. Whetstone Castle of Delight 38 in Rocke of Regard Thou mayst (God wot) thy visard vaile, thy wanton maskes are wrayd.
1576 G. Whetstone Garden of Vnthriftinesse 65 in Rocke of Regard The colours which I wore, my secrete mourning wrayde.
1587 J. Higgins Mirour for Magistrates (new ed.) Stater iii The werke wrayes the man, seeme he neuer so fine.
7. To expose to view; to exhibit, show.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > showing to the sight > show to the sight [verb (transitive)]
to set beforea1000
openOE
showlOE
to put forth?c1225
kithe1297
to make (a) showing ofc1330
presenta1398
representa1398
to lay forthc1420
splayc1440
discovera1450
advisea1500
to set to (the) show?1510
to stall out1547
outlay1555
exhibit1573
strew1579
wray1587
displaya1616
ostentate1630
elevate1637
re-exhibita1648
expound1651
unveil1657
subject1720
flare1862
skin1873
patent1889
showcase1939
1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 92 He wried his wounds, he shewde the shameful blows, He told the trayters treason.
8. intransitive or absol.
a. To denounce or slander a person; to make accusations, cast aspersions.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > utter slander or calumny [verb (intransitive)]
missay?c1225
wrayc1330
malignc1425
slanderc1426
libel1570
deprave1600
calumniate1609
libellizec1620
sycophantize1636
disreport1655
scandalize1745
to sling (also fling, throw) mud1768
calumny1895
foul-mouth1960
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 2179 Meriadok wrayeþ ay, To þe king þus seyd he.
1399 W. Langland Richard Redeles ii. 84 Þat no manere mede shulde make him wrye.
14.. Wheatley MS. (1921) 8 First ye gloþered, now ye wrye.
b. To make disclosures or statements.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or make revelations [verb (intransitive)]
cough1393
wrayc1425
to break a secreta1450
to tell allc1450
to bring (also put) to light1526
to let on1725
to open up1884
to come out of the closet1971
to come out1976
society > communication > information > action of informing > give information [verb (intransitive)]
meanOE
telllOE
to make reportc1425
wrayc1425
wrobc1425
lay1488
inform1569
intelligence1616
advertise1764
c1425 Thomas of Erceld. (1875) 2 If j solde sytt to domesdaye, with my tonge, to wrobbe and wrye.
c1440 York Myst. xxi. 25 They askid yf I a prophete ware, And I saide ‘nay’; but sone I wreyede high aperte.
c. northern dialect. (See quot. 1781.)
ΚΠ
1781 J. Hutton Tour to Caves (ed. 2) Gloss. To wree against a person, to insinuate to his disadvantage.
Derivatives
wraying n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > informing on or against > [noun]
wrayingc1000
information1387
promotion?1533
talebearing1571
delation1578
sycophancy1622
peachery1654
blowing the gap1821
nosing1827
peaching1859
rounding1862
squeal1872
scream1915
singing1937
snouting1937
dobbing1968
whistle-blowing1971
society > law > administration of justice > general proceedings > accusation, allegation, or indictment > [noun]
wrayingc1000
indictment1303
accusationa1382
information1387
appeaching1401
allegeancea1430
supposal1429
accuse?a1439
appealing1440
ditingc1440
indictingc1440
detection1471
cusing1488
indictament1523
arraigning1533
denouncement1544
arraignment1549
raignment1570
delation1578
denunciation1588
prosecution1590
accusement1596
inditure1614
aggravation1626
arraign1638
delating1820
billing1884
beef1928
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > [noun]
teleeOE
folk-leasinga1000
tolec1000
wrayingc1000
missaw?c1225
slanderc1290
disclanderc1300
famationc1325
noisec1325
skander1338
missaying1340
misspeecha1375
slanderingc1380
biting1382
defaminga1400
filtha1400
missaya1400
obloquya1438
oblocution?a1439
juroryc1440
defamationa1450
defamea1450
forspeaking1483
depravinga1500
defamya1513
injury?1518
depravation1526
maledictiona1530
abusion?1530
blasphemation1533
infamation1533
insectationa1535
calumning1541
calumniation?1549
abuse1559
calumnying1563
calumny1564
belying?1565
illingc1575
scandalizing1575
misparlance?1577
blot1587
libelling1587
scandal1596
traducement1597
injurying1604
deprave1610
vilifying1611
noisec1613
disfame1620
sycophancy1622
aspersion1633
disreport1640
medisance1648
bollocking1653
vilification1653
sugillation1654
blasphemya1656
traduction1656
calumniating1660
blaspheming1677
aspersing1702
blowing1710
infamizing1827
malignation1836
mud-slinging1858
mud-throwing1864
denigration1868
mud-flinging1876
dénigrement1883
malignment1885
injurious falsehood1907
mud-sling1919
bad-mouthing1939
bad mouth1947
trash-talking1974
c1000 Ælfric Gram. (Z.) 317 Accusatio, wreging.
?c1225 Ancrene Riwle (Cleo.: Scribe B) (1972) 2 Þe an [riwle] riwleð þe heorte & makeð efne & smeðe wið vte cnoste & dolke of woh inwit & of wreȝinde.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 225 We schule beon cwite of wreiȝinge ed þe Muchele dom.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 150 Þe fifðe [vice] wreiunge.
c1330 King of Tar 739 The ladi bad hire maydens anon, Out of hire chaumbre forte gon, For drede of wriyying sake.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 26350 Þat schrife agh selden be wreiand.
a1425 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Galba) l. 27671 Þai will of deme a man with ill, And has bot a wreghing þar-till.
c1425 Eng. Conq. Ireland 102 He beleued þe fals mannys talys & wryynge.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† wrayv.2
Obsolete. rare.
intransitive. To evacuate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > organs of excretion > defecation or urination > defecation > [verb (intransitive)]
dritea1000
to do one's filthheadc1300
shit?c1335
to go to siegec1400
scumbera1425
cack1436
to do one's easementa1438
to ease nature, ease oneselfc1440
skite1449
to do of one's needingsc1475
fen1486
dung1508
spurge1530
to cover his feet1535
lask1540
stool1540
to exonerate nature1542
file1564
fiant1575
cucka1605
wray1620
exonerate1631
excrement1632
to do one's ease1645
sir-reverence1665
excrementizec1670
nest1679
poop1689
move1699
defecate1837
crap1874
mire1918
to make a mess1928
mess1937
to go poo-poo (also poo-poos)1960
potty1972
to do a whoopsie (or whoopsies)1973
pooh1975
1620 I. C. Two Merry Milke-maids iv. i. sig. M1 I thinke some Bird was wraid in my eye.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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v.1c725v.21620