Betrayal

/bɪˈtreɪəl/ noun

Definition

Betrayal is the act of breaking someone’s trust in a serious way, especially by helping an enemy or revealing secrets. It often causes deep emotional pain and a sense of being abandoned.

Etymology

Formed from the verb “betray” with the noun-forming ending “-al.” “Betray” itself comes from Latin “trādere,” meaning “to hand over” or “to deliver.”

Kelly Says

Betrayal hurts more than a normal mistake because it attacks the invisible contract of trust between people. That’s why stories in every culture have powerful betrayal scenes—our brains are wired to fear them.

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