Obs. Forms: 4 traitre, -tere, 4–5 -terie, 4–6 -tourie, 4–7 -torie, 5–6 -tory; 4 traytrie, 4–5 -torye, 4–6 -tory, -tery(e, 5 -toury, -towrye, -tere, 5–6 -torie, 6 -tery, -terie; 4 traterie, -tourie, 4–6 -toury(e, 5 -towry, -tory, 6 -torie; 5 treitorie; 5 treytori, 5–6 -tory. [f. TRAITOR + -Y: cf. ancestry, mastery.] The conduct or action of a traitor; treachery; treason.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 6248. Þou synnest þan wykkedly, And doust þe soule treytory. Ibid. (c. 1330), Chron. Wace (Rolls), 9698. Þey ȝede aboute þe court to spye Wher þey myght do þer trayterye.
13[?]. K. Alis., 3983. Thou schalt beo honged and to-drawe,… For thou soche traytory wroughtest!
a. 1375. Lay Folks Mass Bk., App. IV. 44. Ȝif he for traytrie weore take.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IV. 22. It wes fer wer þan tratoury For to betreyss sic A persoune.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 26. In drede of treson of traitre aȝenst god and his lawe.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 334. The king unto his Sone tolde Of Tharse thilke traiterie.
1402. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 28. Guiltie of traitorie to our realme.
a. 1450. Myrc, Festial, 13. Thre knyghtes also weren enpeched to þe Emperour of traytere.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun, 111. Of Judas & cosse & the traytourye.
c. 1485. Digby Myst., II. 400. He shall repent hys Rebellyous treytory.
c. 1500. Kennedy, Passion of Christ, 299. Judas last, þat wrocht þe tratory.
c. 1537. Thersites (1820), 74. Imagin no tratourye againste your prince.
c. 1550. Bale, K. Johan (Camden), 61. Never … with owt moch traytery.
1570. Levins, Manip., 106/17. Traytorie, proditio.
1571. in Scot. Poems 16th C. (1801), II. 280. To commit open tratorie.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., I. 112. Gif any man be convict of traitorie done to his overlord.
