Middle English Dictionary Entry
traitǒurī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | traitǒurī(e n. Also traitori(e, -uri(e, -eri(e, -erẹ̄, treitourie, -ori(e, -erie, tratouri(e, -orie, -erie, treturie, -urri, -erie, thratourie & traitri(e, -trẹ̄, tretrie. |
| Etymology | AF traitrie, traiterie, traitury; also cp. ME traitǒur n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. trecheri(e n.
1.
(a) Any of several acts or kinds of behavior constituting criminal treason: plotting or attempting the death of the king or of one of his relatives; betrayal of king or country to an enemy; rebellion against the king or his officers; injustice on the part of a king's magistrate; apostasy from the state gods; also, more loosely, disloyalty, insubordination, sedition, crime; traitorous ness [quot. c1500(?a1475)]; (b) treachery, betrayal; infidelity to a lover; ingratitude; breach of trust; also, treacherousness, duplicity; also, an act of treachery or duplicity, a betrayal; (c) treason against God; violation of the obligations of ecclesiastical office; sin viewed as treasonable disobedience to God, wickedness; ~ to (ayenes, of) god.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1350 Guy(3) (Add 14408)2426 : G said..'Thu sent word of luf and pes: Euer-mar I sal te hald for les; Ful I waht that tis tresoun Fundes was thuru duk Otoun.' Swa Loer for-thoht that trayturry That he ne myht spek wiht G.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.781 : O Donegild..to the feend I thee resigne; Lat hym enditen of thy traitorie [vr. tratorye].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2211 : What man that is of traiterie, Of moerdre or elles robberie Atteint, the jugge schal noght lette, Bot he schal slen.
- (a1400) MSS PRO in App.Bk.Lond.E.274 : Thomas Austyn Is..on of the principall meyntenors of tretorie touchynge to owre lyge lord the kyng, that is for to seyne helpynge..Johan Norhamptone and hese in the same openyon that he was Inne In the struxsion of the Cete of London.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.61 : Machog, þe Scottes kyng..wild, þorgh traitourie, Haf traised Edward þe kyng.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)221/32 : Hit was ordeinede ..þat þe Kyng shulde put oppon him poyntes of traitery.
- c1400 Wycl.Dominion (Dub 244)292 : Men were wont bi iugement of ynglond to dampne prestis and clerkis for robberie & þefte, and also for trayterie and oþer smale trespas.
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)3951 : No hadde myn hawberk beo þe strengore Þou hadest me vyly y slawe Þou schalt beo honged and to drawe..For þou soche traytory [Ld: traisoun] wrouȝtest.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Possessioners (Corp-C 296)130 : Þouȝ clerkis trespassen neuere so moche ȝe in traiterie, conspirynge þe kyngis deþ & quenys..þe kyng may not ponysche hem bi o ferþing worþ.
- a1450 Spaldyng Katereyn þe curteys (BodR 22)p.542 : Allas..qwat woo hath þe wrunge to wirkyn a-ȝens me..þou schalt for þi traytury to turment be slounge.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)19 : Genyone with his traytorye Solde þam ille..Vn-to þe false ley.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)13/24 : Thre knyghtes also weren enpeched to þe Emperour of traytere by fals suggestyon, and wer commawndet to pryson forto haue ben slayne þat nyght.
- a1500 Lydg.Sts.AA (Petyt 511)3206 : Treyterye [vrr. treterye, traytry; Lnsd: O thou..ground of al deceite, Rote of fraude, falsnesse, & treacherye, To all our goddis traitour & enmye].
- c1500(?a1475) Landavall (Rwl C.86)478 : Sir Landevalle Is accusyd..That he shuld with tratoury Beseche the quene of velony.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.140 : To the senate of Roome it is well knowe Howe..Brytain was brought so lowe, By helpe of erle Androgeus and traytorye.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6248 : Loke þerfore, executore, Ȝyf þou haue ȝyt hold yn store Þat þou oghtest for to haue ȝyue..Þou synnest þan wykkedly, And doust þe soule treytory.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (StJ-C C.25)384/22 : Traytourye [vr. treitourie; Hrl: Forsake ȝoure..false doomes, crueltees, which ȝe vse for to do þefte & trecherie to ȝoure neiȝboris].
- c1429 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)111 : The eghtenth chapitle tellis of Judas & cosse & the traytourye.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)29.428 : To thin Owne Modris sone swich tretories thou [Cain] dost As is thy wone.
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)156 : This fals Arcite, sumwhat moste he feyne, When he wex fals, to covere his traitorie [vrr. thratourye, traytrie].
- c1475-c1500 Looke well (Skeat)48 : Though al the erth..Were parchëmyn smothe..And the gret see..were torned in inke..Ech stik a penne, ech man a scriveyn..They coud nat wryte wommannes traitory [vr. treytorye].
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)298 : Syn thou haste made hym othe, Certys, hyt were a traytory, For to wayte hym velany.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.297 : Kyng Dauyd First..desyryd þe fayre woman..and from þat wyckyd desyr he fel..into fals treterye, from treterye into morde.
- a1500 PParv.(Add 37789)501 : Tretcherye or treterye [Hrl 221: Dolus, fraus, dolositas, subdolositas].
c
- c1400 Wycl.DSins (Bod 647)152 : Hit is a trayturye to God to be his special vikere, and hyre wiþ Gods godes men to serve God, and sithen put hom in hor offis and drawe hom fro Gods servise.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.23 : God telliþ to men..how he knowiþ her traytery, whan þei done amys.
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)26 : Riche men owen to drede of treson and traitre aȝenst god & his lawe whanne þei meyntene not þe treuþe of þe gospel, but ben aboute to stoppe it.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)65 : The moost tratourie of alle stondiþ in fals confessouris, þat schulden telle þe treuþe of goddis lawe & don not for lesynge of worldly lordischipe, frendeschipe, fauour or..wynnyng.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Serv.& L.(Corp-C 296)242 : More traitorie of god & his peple is in þes prestis þat wilfully & costly procure to haue þis worldly offices..& leuen here gostly office vndon.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)4600 : Ben any of þo lyuynge Þat wiþ traitorye & with wronge Sloghen þat prophete with paynes stronge?
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apost.(Dub 245)438 : Prestis..shulden be capteynes in batele of Crist, but now þei ben cheveteyns on Antecrists syde..And ȝif fewe trewe men wolden worche or speke aȝen þis traterie þat is in Goddis enmyes, þey quenchen hem as heretiks.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.52 : Myn contree is paradyis, from qhens I and þu and al mankende been banshyd for the treturye and the forfeth of oure fadyr, Adam.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.149 : For gile and tretrie and diuers wronges and despites don to God and holy chirche, remes ben chaunged from nacioun to nacioun.