English Explanatory Dictionary

traitor

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Someone who violates an allegiance and betrays their country; someone guilty of treason; one who, in breach of trust, delivers their country to an enemy, or yields up any fort or place entrusted to their defense, or surrenders an army or body of troops to the enemy, unless when vanquished.
  2. Someone who takes arms and levies war against their country; or one who aids an enemy in conquering their country.
  3. One who betrays any confidence or trust.
verb
  1. To act the traitor toward; to betray; to deceive.
adj
  1. Traitorous.

Pronunciation

/ˈtɹeɪtə(ɹ)/ trā′tər /ˈtɹeɪtɚ/ [ˈtʰɹeɪɾɚ] en-us-traitor.ogg

Word forms

traitor traitors traitour traitoring traitored more traitor most traitor

Etymology

From Middle English traitor, traitour, traytour, from Old French traïtor (French traître), from Latin trāditor. Displaced native Middle English swike from Old English swica (“traitor”), and Middle English proditour and traditour borrowed directly from Latin. The general Old English word denoting "traitor" was lǣwa or lǣwend. Doublet of traditor.

Synonyms

Benedict Arnold quisling Judas turncoat withersake apostate balimbing butterfly changeling defector runagate traitor transfuge turncloak turntippet betrayer fink snake snake in the grass backstabber double-crosser rat ratter recreant renegade serpent swike treacher treacherer treasonist wolf in sheep's clothing

Derived words

race traitor traitordom traitorhood traitorish traitorize traitorless traitorlike traitorly traitorous traitorship traitorsome traitor tracing traitor within the gates turn traitor
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