traitor

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   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.

   After World War I, the communists and Jews were accused to be traitors by the German right wing (the "stab-in-the-back myth"), ultimately culminating in their persecution and massacre.

2. 2
   noun

   One who betrays any confidence or trust.

   It's second nature now to think myself a traitor To myself, to all I've ever burdened with my rotting visage I can't breathe, the weight of all I've disappointed crushes me If I were happy, it would feel as if I couldn't trust me

3. 3
   adj

   Traitorous.

   to find a subject staid and wise Already half turn'd traitor by surprise

4. 4
   noun

   a person who says one thing and does another

5. 5
   noun

   someone who betrays his country by committing treason

6. 6
   noun

   Someone who takes arms and levies war against their country; or one who aids an enemy in conquering their country.

7. 7
   verb

   To act the traitor toward; to betray; to deceive.

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.