treachery
UK: ˈtrɛtʃəri | US: ˈtrɛtʃəri
n. betrayal of trust; deceptive action or nature
n. an act of deliberate disloyalty
treachery = treach<deceive> + ery<noun suffix denoting quality or practice>
- treach (from Old French trechier, meaning "to deceive or cheat")
- ery (a suffix forming nouns indicating a practice or condition, e.g., "robbery," "bravery")
Etymology Origin:
The word "treachery" entered English via Old French trecherie, derived from trechier ("to deceive"). Its roots trace back to Vulgar Latin triccare ("to evade or trick"), linked to Latin tricari ("to play tricks"). The suffix -ery systematized the term into a noun describing the act or quality of betrayal. The word’s evolution reflects a clear logic: combining deception (treach) with a nominalizing suffix (-ery) to formalize the concept of betrayal.
The spy’s treachery shocked his allies.
History remembers the king’s treachery against his own people.
She accused him of treachery after discovering the lie.
The treaty was broken through sheer treachery.
In literature, treachery often drives the plot’s climax.