Treason
King James Dictionary [1]
TREASON, n. tree'zn. L. traho. See Draw and Drag.
Treason is the highest crime of a nature of which a man can be guilty. Its signification is different in different countries. In general, it is 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. In monarchies, the killing of the king, or an attempt to take his life, is treason. In England, to imagine or compass the death of the king, or of the prince, or of the queen consort, or of the heir apparent of 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 in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.
Treason in Great Britain, is of two kinds, high treason and petit treason. High treason is a crime that immediately affects the king or state such as the offenses just enumerated. Petit treason involves a breach of fidelity, but affects individuals. Thus for a wife to kill her husband, a servant his master or lord, or an ecclesiastic his lord or ordinary, is petit treason. But in the United States this crime is unknown the killing in the latter cases being murder only.
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(1): ( n.) Loosely, the betrayal of any trust or confidence; treachery; perfidy.
(2): ( n.) 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.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [3]
trē´z ' n : The translation of קשׁר , ḳesher , in English Versions of the Bible 1 Kings 16:20; 2 Kings 11:14 parallel 2 Chronicles 23:13 . Ḳesher (from קשׁר , ḳāshar , "to bind") means "a conspiracy" ( 2 Samuel 15:12; 2 Kings 12:20 , etc.), and the translation "treason" is due to the King James Versions' love of variety.
