Betray Contains the Word Tradition
To betray is to be disloyal or to reveal. Its Latin root means to hand over, which is also where tradition comes from.
To betray is to be disloyal to someone, or to reveal something unintentionally. The Latin *tradere* means to hand over — and it gives English both *betray* and *tradition*. Handing something down through generations and handing someone over to their enemies are, etymologically, the same act. Even *traitor* comes from the same verb.
- To be disloyal. *He betrayed his friends.*
- To reveal unintentionally. *Her face betrayed nothing.*
- To hand over treacherously. *Betrayed to the authorities.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | betray | Never betray a trust. |
| Past | betrayed | She felt betrayed. |
| Noun | betrayal | A cruel betrayal. |
| Person | betrayer | The betrayer fled. |
| Related | traitor | Branded a traitor. |
How it is used in a sentence
- He betrayed his colleagues.Disloyalty.
- Her voice betrayed her nerves.Revealed unintentionally.
- The accent betrays his origins.Gives them away.
Words from *tradere*, to hand over
- Tradition — what is handed down
- Traitor — one who hands over
- Treason — the act of betraying a state
- Betray — with the English prefix *be-*
- Extradite — to hand over across borders
From English *be-* plus Old French *traïr*, from Latin *tradere*, to hand over, from *trans*, across, and *dare*, to give.
Are tradition and treason related?
Yes. Both come from Latin *tradere*, to hand over. One hands down customs, the other hands over people.
Can an object betray you?
Yes, in the sense of revealing something. A trembling hand can betray nervousness without any disloyalty involved.