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treason

noun

  1. crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation
L269615 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈtɹiː.zən/

noun

Etymology: 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.

  1. The crime of betraying one’s own country.

    “Treaſon doth never [pro]ſper: what's the reaſon? / For yf yt [pro]ſper none dare call yt treaſon”

    “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.”

  2. An act of treachery, betrayal of trust or confidence.