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Webster 1913 Edition

Portrait

Por′trait

,
Noun.
[F., originally p. p. of
portraire
to portray. See
Portray
.]
1.
The likeness of a person, painted, drawn, or engraved; commonly, a representation of the human face painted from real life.
In
portraits
, the grace, and, we may add, the likeness, consists more in the general air than in the exact similitude of every feature.
Sir J. Reynolds.
☞ The meaning of the word is sometimes extended so as to include a photographic likeness.
2.
Hence, any graphic or vivid delineation or description of a person;
as, a
portrait
in words
.
Portrait bust
, or
Portrait statue
,
a bust or statue representing the actual features or person of an individual; – in distinction from an ideal bust or statue.

Por′trait

,
Verb.
T.
To portray; to draw.
[Obs.]
Spenser.

Webster 1828 Edition

Portrait

PORTRAIT

,
Noun.
[Eng. to portray; pour; for, fore, and traire; L. trahere; Eng. to draw.] A picture or representation of a person, and especially of a face, drawn from the life.
In portraits, the grace, and we may add, the likeness, consist more in the general air than in the exact similitude of every feature.

PORTRAIT

,
Verb.
T.
To portray; to draw. [Not used.]

Definition 2024

Portrait

Portrait

See also: portrait

German

Noun

Portrait n ‎(genitive Portraits, plural Portraits)

  1. Obsolete spelling of Porträt

Declension

portrait

portrait

See also: Portrait

English

The Mona Lisa, a portrait.
Portrait layout

Alternative forms

Noun

portrait ‎(plural portraits)

  1. A painting or other picture of a person, especially the head and shoulders.
    • Sir J. Reynolds
      In portraits, the grace, and, we may add, the likeness, consists more in the general air than in the exact similitude of every feature.
  2. (figuratively) An accurate depiction of a person, a mood, etc.
    The author painted a good portrait of urban life in New York in his latest book.
  3. (computing, printing) A print orientation where the vertical sides are longer than the horizontal sides.

Related terms

Translations

Antonyms

Verb

portrait ‎(third-person singular simple present portraits, present participle portraiting, simple past and past participle portraited)

  1. (obsolete) To portray; to draw.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)

Adjective

portrait ‎(not comparable)

  1. Representing the actual features of an individual; not ideal.
    a portrait bust; a portrait statue

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pɔʁ.tʁɛ/

Noun

portrait m ‎(plural portraits)

  1. portrait
  2. description (of a person or things)

Derived terms

Norman

Noun

portrait m ‎(plural portraits)

  1. (Jersey) portrait

Etymology

From Middle French portraict, pourtraict, nominal use of the past participle of portraire ‎(“portray”), from Latin prōtrahō.

Pronunciation

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