Etymologically
Log in

traitor

Etymology and origin of the English word traitor

History Permalink

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈtɹeɪ.tə(ɹ)/ (UK); /ˈtɹeɪ.tɚ/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English traitour, borrowed from Old French traitor, traitre,[2][3][4][5][6] from Latin trāditor (“betrayer”),[2][3][4][5][6] literally “one who delivers, hands over”,[3][4] from trādere “to hand over, betray”,[2][3][4][5] from Latin trāns (“over”) + dare (“to give”).[4][5] It is related to treason and tradition.[4][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

One who betrays a person who trusts him, or a duty entrusted to him; a betrayer (before 1225).[7][3][4]

Semantic evolution

In early use the word usually suggested Judas Iscariot.[4][7] From the late 15th century (1474) it was used specifically of one who is false to his allegiance to his sovereign or country, one guilty of treason.[7][4] The modern French traître comes from the Latin nominative trāditor, a form preserved by frequent use in direct address.[4]

Timeline

  • before 1225 – a betrayer.[7][3]
  • before 1300 – adjective, traitorous.[7][4]
  • c. 1380 – traitorous.[3]
  • 1474 – one guilty of treason against sovereign or country.[7][4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person who betrays their country, especially one who commits treason.
  2. A person who betrays a cause, a trust or another's confidence.

Word family

  • traitorship
  • traitorous
  • treason
  • tradition
  • betray
  • Judas

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Traitor.” Etymologically, 11 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/traitor. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·