traitor English · revision 930

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈtɹeɪ.tə(ɹ)/ ''(UK)''; /ˈtɹeɪ.tɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|traitour]], [[bor|fro|traitor]], ''traitre'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la|trāditor|t=betrayer]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) literally “one who delivers, hands over”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''trādere'' “to hand over, betray”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[af|la|trāns|dare|t1=over|t2=to give]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) It is related to [[treason]] and [[tradition]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who betrays a person who trusts him, or a duty entrusted to him; a betrayer (before 1225).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In early use the word usually suggested Judas Iscariot.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) 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.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The modern French ''traître'' comes from the Latin nominative ''trāditor'', a form preserved by frequent use in direct address.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1225 – a betrayer.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1300 – adjective, traitorous.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1380 – ''traitorous''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1474 – one guilty of treason against sovereign or country.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who betrays their country, especially one who commits [[treason]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person who betrays a cause, a trust or another's confidence.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[traitorship]]

+ * [[traitorous]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[treason]]

+ * [[tradition]]

+ * [[betray]]

+ * [[Judas]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}