Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “treasonous” come from?

Treasonous derives from Middle English treason combined with the suffix -ous, from Latin traditio meaning "a handing over or betrayal" and the adjectival suffix -osus, ultimately from Latin do meaning "to give."

treasonous (English): Like or in the way of treason

Definitions

  1. Like or in the way of treason

Ancestry of “treasonous”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtreasonThe crime of betraying one’s own country; An act...
2Middle EnglishtresounBetrayal; aiding one's enemies or rivals;...
3Anglo-Norman Frenchtreson—
4Old FrenchtraïsonAlternative form of traison
5Latintrāditiō—
6Latin-tiō—
7Latindissertātiō—
8Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
9Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
10Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
11Latincalceusshoe
12Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
13Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “treasonous”

  • treasonously
  • untreasonous
  • nontreasonous
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →