treasonn.
/ˈtriːz(ə)n/ 1.
a. The action of betraying; betrayal of the trust undertaken by or reposed in any one; breach of faith, treacherous action, treachery.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > treachery or treason > treacherous action > [noun]
treason?c1225
treacheryc1300
trechettingc1330
traisementc1380
betrayinga1382
betraisingc1385
proditionc1425
trayment1468
tradition1483
tradiment1535
foul play1546
betrayment1548
false play1567
betray1600
treacherizing1656
betrayal1817
treasony1828
double-crossing1834
trahison1858
dobbing1968
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > treachery > [noun]
swikec893
swikedomc893
swikelnessa1023
lewnessc1175
treachery?c1225
treason?c1225
culvertshipa1250
swikeheada1250
swikeldoma1250
swikelhedea1250
felony1297
traitorhead1303
traitory1303
falsenessc1330
trainc1390
proditionc1425
traitorhoodc1470
covin1487
practicea1513
tradiment1535
traitorousness1571
Punic faith1590
traitorism1591
perfidy1592
perfidiousness1597
perfidity1607
treacherousness1610
traitorship1645
Carthaginian faith1711
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > treachery > [noun] > treason
treason?c1225
treacherya1400
hurt majestyc1480
lèse-majestéc1485
perduellion1533
patricide1576
treasonrya1600
perduellism1656
treasonableness1679
lèse-nation1789
treasony1828
trahison1858
parricide1867
fifth columnism1941
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 47 Dauid..dude..treisun ant mon slacht on his treowe knichte vrie hire lauerd.
a1240 Wohunge in Cott. Hom. 279 Barabas a þeof þat wið tresun..hafde a mon cwelled.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 2337 Vor hii.. in trayson were cointe Þat hii ssolde þen king sle.
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter ix. 29 Whas mouth is ful of weriynge & bitternes & treson.
13.. K. Alis. (Bodl.) 1362 And he þat þe traisoun dede Was fore hakked in þat stede.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3882 Qui has þou don me sli tresum?
c1400 Song Roland 176 For men dred tresson wher they it finden, And thought on tresson þer trist was neuer.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xi. 43 He had done treyson, when he slogh Vry.
a1450 Knt. de la Tour lxxiv. (1906) 96 It is treson whanne a man trustithe in her [his wife] and she discouered his counsaile.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. ii. 27 Vpon the racke Bassanio, then confesse what treason there is mingled with your loue. View more context for this quotation
1611 W. Mure Misc. Poems i. 15 By subtil slight, or treassoune, To siege, and sack the Rampier of my ressoun.
1825 W. Scott Talisman i, in Tales Crusaders III. 16 From whom I should demand security, did I not know that treason seldom dwells with courage.
b. treason of the clerks n. = trahison des clercs n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > art or occupation of writer or author > [noun] > compromise of integrity
treason of the clerks1940
1940 W. Empson Gathering Storm 34 Treason of the clerks, boys, curtains that descend, Lights becoming darks, boys, waiting for the end.
1970 C. C. O'Brien Camus iii. 61 The proposition that failure to take an anti~communist stand constituted ‘the treason of the clerks’ of which Benda spoke.
1979 Guardian 6 June 14/7 Ex-King's men will be revealed as those whose bogus liberalism led them to ‘the treason of the clerks’.
2. Law.In old English law treason was either high treason, an offence against the king's majesty or the safety of the commonwealth, or petit or petty treason, an offence committed against a subject. Petit treason is now punished only as murder, and high treason is usually styled simply treason. Many acts of high treason are now treated as treason felony.
1292 Britton i. ix. §1 Tresun est en chescun damage qe hom fet a escient ou procure de fere a cely a qi hom se fet ami. Et poet estre treysoun graunt et petit.]
a. Also high treason. Violation by a subject of his allegiance to his sovereign or to the state.Defined 1350–51 by Act 25 Edw. III, Stat. 5, c. 2, as compassing or imagining the king's death, or that of his wife or eldest son, violating the wife of the king or of the heir apparent, or the king's eldest daughter being unmarried, levying war in the king's dominions, adhering to the king's enemies in his dominions, or aiding them in or out of the realm, or killing the chancellor or the judges in the execution of their offices. In 1795 the offence was extended to actual or contemplated use of force to make the king change his counsels, or to intimidate either or both of the Houses of Parliament (but from 1848, see also treason-felony n. at Compounds 3 below). As a result of the Treason Act (1945), the procedure for murder was applied to treason cases.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [noun] > treason
high treason1303
hurt majestyc1480
lèse-majestéc1485
perduellion1533
patricide1576
perduellism1656
parricide1867
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > treachery > [noun] > treason > high
high treason1303
1292 Britton i. ix. §2 Graunt tresoun est a compasser nostre mort, ou de nous desheriter de noster reaume, ou de fauser noster seal, ou de contrefere nostre monee ou de retoundre.]
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 10258 Yn no þyng wote y more tresun, Þan brynge þy lorde to hys felun.
1473 J. Warkworth Chron. (Camden) 5 The Lorde Hungerforde was..behedede for hye treasoune.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. iii. 92 Tell Bullingbrooke..That euery stride he makes vpon my land, Is dangerous treason . View more context for this quotation
a1612 J. Harington Epigrams (1615) sig. A4v Treason doth neuer prosper, whats the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it Treason.
1660 Exact Accompt Trial Regicides 31 To stand Mute in High-Treason, is all one, as to Confess the Fact.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xvii. 60 A fatal maxim..that in the case of treason, which included every offence that the subtlety of lawyers could derive from an hostile intention towards the prince or republic, all privileges were suspended.
1814 W. Scott Waverley II. xviii. 276 The charge brought against you of aiding and abetting high treason . View more context for this quotation
1902 Westm. Gaz. 12 June 10/1 At present there is only one species of treason—that known as high treason, by way of contradistinction to petty treason.
1907 Verney Mem. l. 34 Sir Robert Whittingham was attainted of treason.
1911 W. B. Odgers & W. B. Odgers Comm. Law Eng. I. 145 Writing treasonable words is, no doubt a more deliberate act than merely uttering them. But..if the writings be not published, they do not constitute an overt act of treason.
Categories »
b. petit or petty treason: see petit treason n. at petit adj. and n. Compounds 1, petty treason n. at petty adj. and n. Compounds 1b.
c. constructive treason n. action which though not actually or overtly coming under any of the acts specified in the Statute of Treason, was declared by law to be treason and punishable as such.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [noun] > treason > offences related to treason
petty treason1496
misprision of treason1533
petit treason1605
statutory treason1678
constructive treasona1715
treason-felony1865
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > treachery > [noun] > treason > constructive
constructive treasona1715
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 526 It was not possible to make it look even like a constructive treason.
1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. 75 The creatures of tyrannical princes had opportunity to create abundance of constructive treasons; that is, to raise, by forced and arbitrary constructions, offences into the crime and punishment of treason, which never were suspected to be such.
1882 W. E. H. Lecky Hist. Eng. 18th Cent. III. xiii. 522 The charge [against Lord George Gordon] was what is termed by lawyers ‘constructive treason’. It rested upon the assertion that the agitation which he had created and led was the originating cause of the outrages that had taken place.
Categories »
d. misprision of treason: see misprision n.1 1b.
e. In exclamatory use (in sense 1a or 2a). Cf. tray int.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > treachery > treason [interjection]
treason1388
traya1450
1388 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) 2 Chron. xxiii. 13 Sche to-rente hir clothis, and seide, Tresouns! tresouns!
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur iv. iii. 121 They herd a grete noyse and many cryed treson, treson. Alass, said kynge Arthur, we ben bitrayed.
a1491 J. Rous Historia Regum Angliæ (1716) 218 Sæpius se proditum clamans & dicens, Treson, Treson, Treson.
1539 Bible (Great) Treason, treason.]
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II v. ii. 72 Treason, foule treason, villaine, traitor, slaue. View more context for this quotation
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. ii. 275 Treason, ho, keepe the gates.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > treachery or treason > treacherous action > [noun] > instance
treacheryc1300
treasonc1330
troth-breakinga1400
truce-breaking1592
double-cross1896
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > treachery > [noun] > a treacherous act
treacheryc1300
treasonc1330
Sinonism1864
double-cross1896
stab in the back1922
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7128 In casteles he sette garnysons ffor þe drede of oþer traysons.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 172 His traitour ert þou now, þou did him a tresoun.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. iii. 95 In assemblyng the peple thus to gyder they make moo traysons in the cytees than they make good alyances.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. ii. 47 His treasons will sit blushing in his face. View more context for this quotation
1605 M. Sutcliffe Briefe Exam. Menacing & Disleal Petition 2 Manifold rebellions and treasons against their princes.
1708 Rastell's Termes de la Ley (new ed.) 450 Petit Treason is a Treason of a lower degree; as if a Servant kill his Master, a Wife her Husband.
a1710 R. Atkyns Parl. & Polit. Tracts (1734) 23 By this means Men will be discouraged from discovering Treasons.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
treason-charge n.
ΚΠ
1900 Echo 9 Jan. 2/7 I..was then discharged on the high treason charge.
treason court n.
ΚΠ
1900 Daily News 12 Nov. 5/2 At to-day's sitting of the Treason Court, Mr. Schroeder..was released on bail.
treason-gown n.
ΚΠ
1659 T. Burton Diary (1828) III. 437 Her custom was..to come into the dining-room to him in her treason-gown, (as I called it,) I telling him, that when she had that gown on, he should allow her to say anything.
treason-law n.
ΚΠ
1810 Edinb. Rev. 16 105 The principles of treason-law.
treason-monger n.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > treachery > [noun] > treason > traitor to country or government
traitorc1290
treason-worker1553
treacherer1571
treacher1591
Catiline1592
patricide1593
treason-monger1746
treasonist1796
parricide1853
fifth-columnist1940
1746 M. Hughes Plain Narr. Late Rebellion 5 Among all these Treason-mongers, old Gordon, the Laird of Glenbucket is a notable Instance of Loyalty.
1839 Ld. Brougham Hist. Sketches Statesmen George III, Gibbs 127 A rabble-leader or a treason-monger, a libeller or a blasphemer.
treason-plot n.
ΚΠ
1640 J. Yorke Union of Honour 174 That bloody and damnable treason-plot.
treason-tavern n.
ΚΠ
1682 N. Tate & J. Dryden 2nd Pt. Absalom & Achitophel 14 Og from a Treason Tavern rowling home.
treason trial n.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > trying or hearing of cause > [noun] > trial > other types of trial
oyer?a1475
trial by proviso1676
political trial1774
drumhead court-martial1835
trial at bar1866
speedy trial1894
show trial1928
treason trial1930
war trial1949
split trial1960
spy trial1972
1930 Economist 6 Dec. 1054/2 Treason trials are the grand elixir of revolutionary régimes; and for years the Soviet Government, like competent theatrical producers, have managed to stage a series of such performances in almost uninterrupted succession.
1979 A. Melville-Ross Two Faces of Nemesis viii. 47 Treason trials don't help the national image.
treason-worker n.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > treachery > [noun] > treason > traitor to country or government
traitorc1290
treason-worker1553
treacherer1571
treacher1591
Catiline1592
patricide1593
treason-monger1746
treasonist1796
parricide1853
fifth-columnist1940
1553 in Howell's St. Trials (1809) I. 788 Then shall there be men loving themselves, covetous, proud, disobedient to parents, treason-workers.
C2.
treason-canting adj.
ΚΠ
1682 in J. Dryden Medall To Author 26 All their Treason-canting Priests.
treason-hatching adj.
ΚΠ
1745 W. Ayre Mem. A. Pope II. 85 The sacred Character of a lurking, treason-hatching Jesuit.
treason-haunted adj.
ΚΠ
1871 J. Hay Pike County Ballads (1880) 110 Its stealthy echoes pour Through treason-haunted regions.
C3.
treason-felon n. a person convicted of treason-felony.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [noun] > treason > offences related to treason > one guilty of
treason-felon1881
1881 R. F. Littledale in Academy 29 Jan. 75 The experiences of a treason-felon.
treason-felony n. an offence, formerly included among acts of treason, which by subsequent legislation has been removed from these, and is not punishable with death.Defined (though not so named) by the Crown and Government Security Act, 11 & 12 Vict. c. 12 (1848) by which treasons not directed at the person of the Sovereign were mitigated to felonies, punishable with penal servitude for life, or for a term of not less than five years.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [noun] > treason > offences related to treason
petty treason1496
misprision of treason1533
petit treason1605
statutory treason1678
constructive treasona1715
treason-felony1865
1865 Annual Register 252 The Attorney General said that the Act of Parliament respecting treason-felony created several offences and these were of three descriptions.
1865 Times 29 Nov. 10/2 Counsel for the prisoner was taken by surprise in finding bills for treason-felony instead of high-treason sent up to the grand jury.
1892 Daily News 26 Feb. 3/1 Out of the 23 treason-felony prisoners confined in British prisons during the last ten years, one had become insane.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
treasonv.
rare.
transitive. To betray; to act treasonably towards.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > treachery or treason > treacherous action > [verb (transitive)]
trechec1230
betrayc1275
trayc1275
treason13..
traise1320
trechetc1330
betradec1375
betraisec1386
deceivea1400
bewray1535
reveal1640
double-cross1889
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > undutifulness > treachery > be a traitor to [verb (transitive)]
treason13..
betraisec1374
to play a person foul1799
double-cross1889
to stab (a person, etc.) in the back1916
two-time1959
13.. K. Alis. 723 Thy fadir hastow tresond here!
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 105 Þei wer fulle wele knowen, þat wild haf tresond him.
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iv. 410 (438) To traysen [v.r. trassen] a wight þat trewe is vn-to me.
1890 L. Lewis Proving of Gennad xv. 104 Ere morning, thou shalt know who treasons thee.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.?c1225
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