treason
UK: ˈtriːz(ə)n | US: ˈtriːz(ə)n
n. the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to overthrow the government or harm its sovereign.
n. the action of betraying someone or something (archaic or broader usage).
treason = trea<betray> + son<noun suffix>
- trea<betray>: Derived from Old French traison, from Latin traditio (handing over, betrayal), from tradere (to deliver, betray).
- son<noun suffix>: A suffix forming nouns of action or condition, from Latin -tionem.
Etymology Origin:
The word treason traces back to Latin traditio, meaning "handing over" or "betrayal." It entered English via Old French traison, reflecting the medieval legal concept of disloyalty to a sovereign. The morpheme trea- preserves the core idea of betrayal, while -son marks it as a formal noun. Historically, treason was punishable by death, underscoring its gravity as a breach of trust toward authority.
The general was executed for treason after plotting against the king.
Sharing state secrets with a foreign power is an act of treason.
In Shakespeare's Macbeth, Macbeth commits treason by murdering Duncan.
The whistleblower was accused of treason, though he claimed to act in the public interest.
Ancient Rome treated treason as the ultimate crime against the state.