Treason Meaning
/ˈtɹiː.zən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe crime of betraying one’s own country.
nounAn act of treachery, betrayal of trust or confidence.
Sentence Examples
He was banished to an island for high treason.
If this be treason, make the most of it.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The spy was found guilty of ____ for giving military plans to the enemy nation.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He was accused of ____ because he had supposedly betrayed his country level secrets to a rival nation recently today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English tresoun, treison, from Anglo-Norman treson, from Old French traïson (“treason”), from trair, or from Latin trāditiō (“a giving up, handing over, surrender, delivery, tradition”), from trādō (“give up, hand over, deliver over, betray”, verb), from trāns- (“over, across”) + dō (“give”). Doublet of tradition; also related to betray.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Treaſon doth never [pro]ſper: what's the reaſon? / For yf yt [pro]ſper none dare call yt treaſon"
— c. 1605, John Harington, “42: Of Treason”, in Epigrams (British Library Additional MS. 12049), Book III, folio 75, verso; republished at London: British Library Digitised Manuscripts, 17 September 2020:
"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unleſs on the Testimony of two Witneſses to the same overt Act, or on Confeſsion in open Court."
— 1787 September 17, Alexander Hamilton et al., “Article III, Section 3”, in Constitution of the United States, Philadelphia: Jacob Shallus:
"If for every error and every act of incompetence one can substitute an act of treason, many points of fascinating interpretation are open to the paranoid imagination: treason in high places can be found at almost every turning."
— 1964 November 26, Richard J. Hofstadter, “The Paranoid Style in American Politics”, in Robert Shnayerson, editor, Harper's Magazine, New York City: Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company:
"M. Vonel: 'Your involvement with a group calling themselves THE ORDER OF THE EZIC STAR has been uncovered. […] At least one EZIC member has confessed to receiving your help. This represents treason of the highest order. Goodbye inspector.'"
— 2013, Lucas Pope, Papers, Please, scene: Ending 14:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The spy was found guilty of ____ for giving military plans to the enemy nation.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He was accused of ____ because he had supposedly betrayed his country level secrets to a rival nation recently today.