English
treason
Treason comes from Old French traïson.
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400traïson
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400treson
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500tresoun‘Betrayal of one's nation or governing authorities’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1605treason
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400traïson
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400treson
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500tresoun‘Betrayal of one's nation or governing authorities’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1605treason
Earliest quotation: c. 1605, John Harington, 42: Of Treason: “Treaſon doth never [pro]ſper: what's the reaſon? / For…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *deh₃- ‘give’
date, add, addition, delicious, donate, donation, vendor, donor, dow, additive, dowry, rendition, condone, addendum, dowager, endow, dower, perdition, dati, sconce, 38 more
through Proto-Indo-European *dédeh₃ti ‘to be giving’
dose, antidote, anecdote, dacha, 18 more
through Proto-Italic *didō ‘to give’
through Latin dō ‘give’
data, die, rent, tradition, surrender, vent, render, rendezvous, 16 more
through Old French trair
Today it means
noun The crime of betraying one’s own country.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old French traïson / treason