I. ˈpōr.trə̇]t, ˈpȯr.-, ˈpōə.-, ˈpȯ(ə).-, -.ˌtrā], usu ]d.+V\ transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably from obsolete portrait portrayed, from Middle English, from Middle French, past part, of pourtraire to portray — more at portray
archaic : portray
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French, from past participle of portraire to portray
1. : picture ; especially : a painting, drawing, or other pictorial representation of a person usually showing his face
the best-known photographic portraits of internationally important personages — Current Biography
2. : a sculptured figure : bust , statue
has modeled some notable portraits of women — Current Biography
3. : a visible representation or likeness : image , similitude
seemed a veritable portrait of his father
4. : a graphic portrayal in words : a verbal description
such portraits reveal as clearly as the longer poems his weight of intellect — Encyc. Americana
show that in the final analysis the primary purpose of fiction is not education, not history, not even a portrait of truth, but the entertainment of the reader — F.O.Baker