v. Obs. [OE. belyrtan; f. BE- 2 + *lyrtan cogn. w. MHG. lürzen ‘to deceive,’ pointing to a WGer. *lurtjan, of uncertain derivation; related perh. to MHG. lerz, lurz ‘left, lefthand,’ or perh. to ON. lortr ‘filth, ordure’; cf. also the Romanic words treated by Diez under lordo.] trans. To deceive, cheat, befool.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. ii. 16. Ða Herodes bisuicen vel bilyrtet was from dryum.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 403, in O. E. Misc., 13. Forto bilirten fuȝeles.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 316. Ic, and eue hise wif, sulen adam bilirten of hise lif.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, III. 715. Þat such a lady belirt with þi lechur dedes.
