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)

1. (obsolete) To denounce (a person).
2. (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

3. (obsolete) To betray.
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Myllers Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

     Thou shalt upon thy trouthe swere me heere

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

     That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye.

Related terms

• bewray

Anagrams

• awry, wary