The word "traitorous" is spelled phonetically as /ˈtreɪtərəs/. The initial sound is represented by the letter "t" followed by the long "a" sound represented by the letters "ai". The second syllable contains the short "t" sound represented by the letter "t" and the letter "u" representing the "uh" sound. The third syllable begins with the letter "r" and ends with a long "us" sound, represented by the letters "erous". The spelling of "traitorous" accurately reflects its pronunciation.
The adjective "traitorous" refers to an individual, action, or behavior characterized by betrayal, disloyalty, or treachery towards a person, a group, or an organization. Primarily used in political or social contexts, it suggests the essence of acting against one's allegiances or commitments with malintent, often in favor of a rival, enemy, or opposing ideology.
A traitorous act typically involves subverting the trust placed in one's position or responsibilities. For instance, a political opportunist may engage in traitorous behavior by clandestinely leaking confidential and sensitive information to an opposing party or nation, compromising their own government's interests for personal gain or ideological beliefs.
Furthermore, a traitorous person may actively collude or conspire against their comrades, allies, or team, aiming to undermine their efforts or jeopardize their safety. In historical contexts, traitors have been known to turncoat and join rival forces, surrendering vital information, or sabotaging their own side in times of war or crisis.
The term "traitorous" is laden with negative connotations, carrying a strong moral judgment against those who display such disloyalty. It implies a breach of trust and a violation of the principles of honesty and integrity upon which relationships, organizations, and societies are founded.
Guilty of treason; treacherous; perfidious.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "traitorous" has its etymology derived from the noun "traitor". The term "traitor" can be traced back to Middle English, where it was originally spelled as "traitour", and borrowed from Old French "traïtor". In turn, the Old French term was developed from the Latin word "traditor", which means "a person who betrays". Ultimately, the Latin term is derived from the verb "tradere", meaning "to deliver" or "to hand over". Hence, "traitorous" is an adjective that describes someone or something related to or characteristic of a traitor.