Traitor

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: trai=tor

CIDE DICTIONARY

Traitor, n. [OE. traitour, OF. traïtor, traïteur, F. treître, L. traditor, fr. tradere, traditum, to deliver, to give up or surrender treacherously, to betray; trans across, over + dare to give. See Date time, and cf. Betray,Tradition, Traditor, Treason.].

•  One who violates his allegiance and betrays his country; one guilty of treason; one who, in breach of trust, delivers his country to an enemy, or yields up any fort or place intrusted to his defense, or surrenders an army or body of troops to the enemy, unless when vanquished; also, one who takes arms and levies war against his country; or one who aids an enemy in conquering his country. See Treason.  [1913 Webster]

  "O passing traitor, perjured and unjust!"  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence, one who betrays any confidence or trust; a betrayer.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

Traitor, a. 

 Traitorous.  Spenser. Pope.  [1913 Webster]

Traitor, v. t. 

 To act the traitor toward; to betray; to deceive.  Lithgow.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Traitor, n. (fem. traitress) (often foll. by to) a person who is treacherous or disloyal, esp. to his country.

Derivative

traitorous adj. traitorously adv.

Etymology

ME f. OF tra{iuml}t(o)ur f. L traditor -oris f. tradere: see TRADITION

THESAURUS

Traitor

Benedict Arnold, Brutus, Judas, Judas Iscariot, Quisling, agitator, apostate, archtraitor, backslider, betrayer, bolter, brawler, cockatrice, collaborationist, collaborator, conniver, conspirator, conspirer, convert, convict, criminal, crook, deceiver, defector, deserter, desperado, desperate criminal, double agent, double-crosser, double-dealer, extremist, felon, fifth columnist, frondeur, fugitive, gallows bird, gangster, gaolbird, informer, insubordinate, insurgent, insurrectionary, insurrectionist, insurrecto, intrigant, intriguer, jailbird, lawbreaker, machinator, malcontent, maverick, mobster, mugwump, mutineer, nonconformist, outlaw, plotter, proselyte, public enemy, quisling, racketeer, rat, rebel, recidivist, recreant, renegade, renegado, renegate, reversionist, revolter, revolutionary, revolutionist, rioter, runagate, schemer, schismatic, scofflaw, scoundrel, seceder, secessionist, separatist, serpent, snake, strikebreaker, subversive, swindler, tergiversant, tergiversator, thief, thug, timeserver, treasonist, trimmer, turnabout, turncoat, turntail, two-timer

ROGET THESAURUS

Traitor

Disobedience

N disobedience, insubordination, contumacy, infraction, infringement, violation, noncompliance, nonobservance, revolt, rebellion, mutiny, outbreak, rising, uprising, insurrection, emeute, riot, tumult, strike, barring out, defiance, mutinousness, mutineering, sedition, treason, high treason, petty treason, misprision of treason, premunire, lese majeste, violation of law, defection, secession, insurgent, mutineer, rebel, revolter, revolutionary, rioter, traitor, quisling, carbonaro, sansculottes, red republican, bonnet rouge, communist, Fenian, frondeur, seceder, secessionist, runagate, renegade, brawler, anarchist, demagogue, Spartacus, Masaniello, Wat Tyler, Jack Cade, ringleader, disobedient, uncomplying, uncompliant, unsubmissive, unruly, ungovernable, breachy, insubordinate, impatient of control, incorrigible, restiff, restive, refractory, contumacious, recusant, recalcitrant, resisting, lawless, mutinous, seditions, insurgent, riotous, unobeyed, unbidden, seditiosissimus quisque ignavus, unthread the rude eye of rebellion.

Knave

N knave, rogue, Scapin, rascal, Lazarillo de Tormes, bad man, blackguard, barrater, barrator, shyster, traitor, betrayer, archtraitor, conspirator, Judas, Catiline, reptile, serpent, snake in the grass, wolf in sheep's clothing, sneak, Jerry Sneak, squealer, tell-tale, mischief-maker, trimmer, fence-sitter, renegade, truant, recreant, sycophant.