treason

nouncommon in dialogue

//ˈtɹiː.zən//

The crime of betraying one’s own country.

noun

1
The crime of betraying one’s own country.
Treaſon doth never [pro]ſper: what's the reaſon? / For yf yt [pro]ſper none dare call yt treaſon
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unleſs on the Testimony of two Witneſses to the same overt Act, or on Confeſsion in open Court.
If for every error and every act of incompetence one can substitute an act of treason, many points of fascinating interpretation are open to the paranoid imagination: treason in high places can be found at almost every turning.
M. Vonel: 'Your involvement with a group calling themselves THE ORDER OF THE EZIC STAR has been uncovered. […] At least one EZIC member has confessed to receiving your help. This represents treason of the highest order. Goodbye inspector.'
2
An act of treachery, betrayal of trust or confidence.

Etymology

From Middle English tresoun, treison, from Anglo-Norman treson, from Old French traïson (“treason”), from trair, or from Latin trāditiō (“a giving up, handing over, surrender, delivery, tradition”), from trādō (“give up, hand over, deliver over, betray”, verb), from trāns- (“over, across”) + dō (“give”). Doublet of tradition and traitor; also related to betray.

Forms

plural: treasons

treacherous · Exhibiting treachery.treachery · Deliberate, often calculated, disregard for trust or faith.tread · To step or walk (on or across something); to trample.

treason · The crime of betraying one’s own country.

treasure · A collection of valuable things; accumulated wealth; a stock…Treasure · A surname.treasurer · The government official in charge of the Treasury.

The neighbouring pages — Alphabetical order follows the rules of the language, not byte values: an accent decides only between two otherwise identical words, and Spanish files Ñ as a letter of its own.