[trea.son] n [ME tresoun, fr. OF traison, fr. L tradition-, traditio act of handing over, fr. tradere to hand over, betray--more at traitor] (13c) 1: the betrayal of a trust: treachery
2: the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign's family