An act or betrayal that counters or opposes an act of treason, or loyalty shown in response to another's disloyalty.
From counter- + treason. Treason comes from Old French traison from Latin traditio meaning 'betrayal.' Countertreason is a rare term describing opposition to treacherous acts.
Countertreason is a fascinating legal paradox—when a spy in enemy territory sabotages enemy operations, is it countertreason against one's original country, or patriotism? The word captures this moral complexity.
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