Portrait

pōr′trāt, n. the likene of a person, esp. of his face: a vivid description in words.— v.t. ( obs. ) to portray.— ns. Por′traitist , a portrait-painter; Por′traiture , a likene : the drawing of portraits, or describing in words: a collection of pictures.— v.t. Portray (pōr-trā′), to paint or draw the likene of: to describe in words: ( obs. ) to adorn.— ns. Portray′al , the act of portraying; Portray′er .— Composite portraits , a method of indicating the facial characteristics of a family or group of persons, while at the same time suppre ing the peculiarities of individual members. [O. Fr. portrait , portraire —L. pro , forth, trahĕre , to draw.]