betray

Where does the word "betray" come from? It comes from Latin tradere, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Betray’s story begins in Latin: tradere meant “to hand over, to betray.” To hand over, to betray, from trans- (across) and dare (to give). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as trair. Carried into French for handing someone over treacherously. It reached English by 1200s as betray. Formed with the English prefix be- attached to the French root, for breaking someone's trust. Today, betray means to break someone's trust, or to be disloyal to a person or cause.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient tradere "to hand over, to betray", to hand over, to betray, from trans- (across) and dare (to give).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval trair "to hand someone over treacherously", carried into French for handing someone over treacherously.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s betray "to break someone's trust or reveal a secret disloyally", formed with the English prefix be- attached to the French root, for breaking someone's trust.