Petit treason

Petit treason
Treason Trea"son, n. [OE. tresun, treisun, traisoun, OF. tra["i]son, F. trahison, L. traditio a giving up, a delivering up, fr. tradere to give up, betray. See {Traitor}, and cf. {Tradition}.] 1. The offense of attempting to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance, or of betraying the state into the hands of a foreign power; disloyalty; treachery. [1913 Webster]

The treason of the murthering in the bed. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Note: In monarchies, the killing of the sovereign, or an attempt to take his life, is treason. In England, to imagine or compass the death of the king, or of the queen consort, or of the heir apparent to the crown, is high treason, as are many other offenses created by statute. In the United States, treason is confined to the actual levying of war against the United States, or to an adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. [1913 Webster]

2. Loosely, the betrayal of any trust or confidence; treachery; perfidy. [1913 Webster]

If he be false, she shall his treason see. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

{Petit treason}. See under {Petit}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Petit treason — Petit Pet it, a. [F. See {Petty}.] Small; little; insignificant; mean; Same as {Petty}. [Obs., except in legal language.] [1913 Webster] By what small, petit hints does the mind catch hold of and recover a vanishing notion. South. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • petit treason — The killing of a husband by a wife; of a lord or master by a servant; of his lord or ordinary by an ecclesiastic. These were called petit treason because they were breaches of the lower allegiance of private and domestic faith. See 4 Bl Comm 75 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • petit treason — ˈped.]ē, ˈpet], ]i noun Etymology: alteration (influenced by petit) of petty treason English law : the crime committed by a servant in killing his master, by a wife in killing her husband, or by an ecclesiastic in killing his superior * * * /pet… …   Useful english dictionary

  • petit treason — /pet ee/, Eng. Law. the killing of a husband by his wife, of a lord by his servant, or of an ecclesiastic by a subordinate ecclesiastic. Also, petty treason. [1490 1500; < AF] * * * …   Universalium

  • Treason — Trea son, n. [OE. tresun, treisun, traisoun, OF. tra[ i]son, F. trahison, L. traditio a giving up, a delivering up, fr. tradere to give up, betray. See {Traitor}, and cf. {Tradition}.] 1. The offense of attempting to overthrow the government of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • treason — (n.) early 13c., from Anglo Fr. treson, from O.Fr. traison (11c.; Mod.Fr. trahison), from L. traditionem (nom. traditio) a handing over, delivery, surrender (see TRADITION (Cf. tradition)). Old French form influenced by the verb trair betray. In… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Petit — Pet it, a. [F. See {Petty}.] Small; little; insignificant; mean; Same as {Petty}. [Obs., except in legal language.] [1913 Webster] By what small, petit hints does the mind catch hold of and recover a vanishing notion. South. [1913 Webster] {Petit …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Petit constable — Petit Pet it, a. [F. See {Petty}.] Small; little; insignificant; mean; Same as {Petty}. [Obs., except in legal language.] [1913 Webster] By what small, petit hints does the mind catch hold of and recover a vanishing notion. South. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Petit jury — Petit Pet it, a. [F. See {Petty}.] Small; little; insignificant; mean; Same as {Petty}. [Obs., except in legal language.] [1913 Webster] By what small, petit hints does the mind catch hold of and recover a vanishing notion. South. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Petit larceny — Petit Pet it, a. [F. See {Petty}.] Small; little; insignificant; mean; Same as {Petty}. [Obs., except in legal language.] [1913 Webster] By what small, petit hints does the mind catch hold of and recover a vanishing notion. South. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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