treacher 
treachert, ". [X ME. twlier. />//</. trrcrhniir. 
trechonre, < OF. triclieor, F. triclieur = Pr. tri- 
cliaire, trichador (cf. It. trecchiero), < ML. triea- 
to>; < trirare, > OF. trirlier, trecher, cheat, trick : 
see trick 1 , c. For the relation of treacher to 
trick, cf. that of lecher, formerly also leaclier, 
to lick. Cf. treachery. ] A traitor; a cheat; a 
deceiver. 
Of alle the world is Emperour 
Gyle my fadir, the trechour. 
Ram. of the Hose, 1. 7214. 
Play not two parts, 
Treacher and coward both. 
Fletcher (and others), Bloody Brother, iii. 1. 
treacherert, IX treaelter + -er (added super- 
fluously, as in poulterer, etc.).] Same as treacher. 
[Bare.] 
Whose deep ambitious reach was still implor'd 
To raise more millions of treaeherers, 
Of homicidial cruel slaughterers. 
Ford, Fame's Memorial. 
treacherous (trech'er-us), a. [< treacher, 
treacher-y + -ous.] 1. Using treachery ; vio- 
lating allegiance or faith pledged; traitorous 
to the state or sovereign ; perfidious in private 
life ; betraying a trust. 
Thou common friend, that 's without faith or love. 
For such is a friend now ; treacherous man ! 
Thou hast beguiled my hopes. 
Shale., T. 0. of V., v. 4. 63. 
2. Marked by deceitfulness or perfidy; charac- 
teristic of a traitor. 
You know I am not false, of a treacherous nature, 
Apt to betray my friend ; I have fought for you too. 
Beau, and Fl., Little French Lawyer, ii. 3. 
Was 't not a most treacherous part to arrest a man in 
the night, and when he is almost drunk? 
Dekker and Webster, Westward Ho, ill. 2. 
3. Having a good, fair, or sound appearance, 
but worthless or bad in character or quality; 
deceptive; not to be depended on or trusted. 
The treacherous colours the fair art betray, 
And all the bright creation fades away ! 
Pope, Essay on Criticism, 1. 492. 
To the foot 
Treach'rous and false; it [ice] smtl'd, and it was cold. 
Cowper, Task, v. 176. 
= 8yn. 1. Faithless, etc. (see perfidious), recreant, treason- 
able. 
treacherously (trech'er-us-li), orfc. In a 
treacherous manner ; by treachery. 
If you can't be fairly run down by the Hounds, you will 
be treacherously shot by the Huntsmen. 
Congrene, Love for Love, i. 2. 
treacherousness (trech'&r-us-nes), w. The 
character of being treacherous ; breach of faith 
or allegiance; faithlessness; perfidy. 
treachery (trech'er-i), .; pi. treacheries (-iz). 
[< ME. trecherie, treccherye, trichcrie, < OF. 
tricherie, trecherie, F. tricherie (= Pr. Mcharia 
= It. treeeheria), treachery, < triclier, trickier, 
trecher, cheat: see trick 1 , v. Cf. trickery.'] Vio- 
lation of allegiance or of faith and confidence; 
treasonable or perfidious conduct ; perfidy. 
Now am I f awty, fc falce, <fe f erde haf been euer ; 
Of trecherye & vn-thawthe bothe bityde sorse. 
Sir Gaicayne and the Green Knight (E. E. T. S.), 1. 2382. 
I am the creatur that il kan fene 
Any falsed or trechere. 
Book of Precedence (E. E. T. S., extra ser.), i. 87. 
Those that betray them do no treachery. 
Shak.,yi. W. of W.,v. 3. 24. 
= Syn. See perfidious. 
treachetourt, . [An erroneous form, a mix- 
ture of treacliour and traitor, perhaps confused 
with tregetour.] A traitor. 
The king was by a Treachetour 
Disguised slaine, ere any thereof thought. 
Spenser, F. Q., II. X. 51. 
treachourt, Same as treacher. 
treacle (tre'kl), . [Early mod. E. also triacle; 
< ME. triaele,< OF. triacle, treacle, F. theriagve 
= Pr. tiriaca, triacla = Sp. teriaca, triaca = Pg. 
theriaga, triaga = It. teriaca, < L. thcriaca, < 
Gr. dr/piaur/ (sc. aoriSorof ), an antidote against the 
(poisonous) bites of wild beasts: see theriac.] 
1. A medicinal compound of various ingre- 
dients, formerly believed to be capable of cur- 
ing or preventing the effects of poison, particu- 
larly the effects of the bite of a serpent. See 
theriac. 
And therefore I wel alowe your request in this behalf, 
that you would haue store of cumfort afore hand ready 
by you to resorte to, and to lay up in your hart as a tria- 
de against the poyson of al desperate dread that might 
rise of occasion of sore tribulation. 
Sir T. More, Cumfort against Tribulation (1673), p. 5. 
Having packed up my purchases of books, pictures, casts, 
treacle, *c. (the making and extraordinary ceremony 
whereof I had been curious to observe, for it is extremely 
pompous and worth seeing), I departed from Venice. 
Evelyn, Diary. March 23, 164ti. 
6448 
Treacle, a Physical Composition, made of Vipers and 
other Ingredients. E. Phillips, 1706. 
2. More generally, a remedy; a panacea; a 
sovereign antidote or restorative: often used 
figuratively. 
Crist, which that is to every harm triacle. 
Chaucer, Man of Law's Tale, 1. 381. 
Love is triacle of hevene. Piers Plomnan (B), ii. 14(i. 
The sovran treacle of sound doctrine. 
Milton, Church Government, ii., Conclusion. 
There fs, even for the most debauched drunkard that 
ever was, a sovereign medicine, a rich triacle, of force 
enough to cure and recover his disease. 
Rev. S. Ward, Sermons, p. ir>7. 
3. The spume of sugar in sugar-refineries: so 
called as resembling in appearance or supposed 
medicinal properties the ancient theriacal com- 
pounds. Treacle is obtained in refining sugar ; molasses 
is the drainings of crude sugar. The name treacle, how- 
ever, is very often given to molasses. 
Mrs. Squeers stood at one of the desks, presiding over 
an immense basin of brimstone and treacle, of which de- 
licious compound she administered a large instalment to 
each boy. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, viii. 
4. A saccharine fluid consisting of the inspis- 
sated juices or decoctions of certain vegetables, 
as the sap of the birch or of the sugar-maple. 
5. One of several plants sometimes regarded as 
antidotes to poison, or named from plants so re- 
garded. See the phrases below Countryman's 
treacle, the common rue, Ruta graveolens; also, the com- 
mon valerian and garlic. [Prov. Eng.) English, trea- 
clet, the water-germander, Teucrimn Scordium. FoQT 
man's treacle. Same us churl' s-treacle; also, the garlic- 
mustard, Sisymbrium Alliaria, and in England the onion, 
Allium Cepa. Venice treacle. See theriac. 
treacle-mustard (tre'kl-mus"tard), M. See 
) ustard. 
treacle-sleep (tre'kl-slep), M. A sweet refresh- 
ing sleep. [Colloq.] 
I fell first into a sluggish torpor, then into treacle-sleep, 
and so lay sound. Carlyle, in Froude (Life in London, viii.). 
treacle-wag (tre'kl-wag), n. Weak beer in 
which treacle is a principal ingredient. Halli- 
well. [Prov. Eng.] 
treacle-Water (tre'kl-w&*t6r), n. A compound 
cordial, distilled with a spirituous menstruum 
from any cordial and sudorific drugs and herbs, 
with a mixture of Venice treacle, or theriac. 
To make treacle-water, good in surfeits, *c. Take the 
husks of green- walnuts, four handfuls; of the juice of 
rue, carduus, marigolds, and balm, of each a pint ; green 
perasitis roots, one pound ; angelica and masterwort, of 
each half a pound ; the leaves of scordium four handfuls ; 
old Venice-treacle and mithridate, of each eight ounces ; 
six quarts of canary ; of vinegar three quarts, and of lime- 
juice one quart : which being two days digested in a bath 
iu a close vessel, distill them in sand. 
The Closet of Rarities (1706). (Nares. ) 
treacle-wormseed (tre'kl-werm'sed), . Same 
as treacle-mustard. 
treacliness (tre'kli-nes), M. Resemblance to 
treacle; viscosity. [Rare.] 
The property of viscosity or treaclyness possessed more 
or less by all fluids is the general influence conducive to 
steadiness. Nature, XXX. 89. 
treacly (tre'kli), . [< treacle + -i/l.] Com- 
posed of or like treacle : abounding in treacle ; 
sweet and viscous. 
tread (tred), v.; pret. trod, pp. trod, trodden, 
ppr. treading. [< ME. treden (pret. trad, pp. 
troden, treden), < AS. tredan (pret. treed, pp. 
treden) = OS. tredan = OFries. treda = D. treden 
= MLG. LG. trefoil = OHG. trefoil, MHG. G. Ire- 
ten = Icel. trodha = Sw. tr&da = Dan. trsede = 
Goth, triidan, tread. The Icel. and Goth, show 
a different vowel. Hence ult. trade 1 , trade, 
trod.'] I. intrans. 1. To set the foot down, as 
on the ground. 
Ther nis, ywis, no serpent so cruel 
Whan man tret on his tayl, ne half so fel. 
As womman is, when she hath caught an ire. 
Chaucer, Summoner's Tale, 1. 294. 
The smallest worm will turn being trodden on. 
Shak., 3 Hen. VI., ii. 2. 17. 
2. To press or be put down on or as on the 
ground. 
Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall" treail 
shall be yours. Deut. xi. 24. 
3. To walk; step; especially, to walk with a 
more or less stately, measured, or cautious step. 
Whan they han goon nat fully half a myle, 
Ryght as they wolde han troden over a style. 
Chaucer, Pardoner's Tale, 1. 230. 
Has it a corn? or does it walk on conscience, 
It treads so gingerly ? 
Fletcher (and another), Love's Cure, ii. >. 
O welcome, Sir Oluf ! now lat thy love gae, 
And tread wi' me in the dance sae gay. 
Sir Oluf and the Elf-King's Daughter (Child's 
[Ballads, I. 299). 
On burnish 'd hooves liis war-horse trade. 
Tennyson, Lady of Shalott. 
tread 
4. To copulate, as birds: said especially of a 
cock-bird. 
Wlien turtles tread, and rooks, and daws. 
Shak., L. L. L., v. 2. 915. 
To have the black ox tread on one's foott. See or. 
-To tread awry. See awry. to tread in one's steps 
(or footsteps), to follow one closely ; imitate one. 
The boys take nil after their father, and covet to tread 
in his steps. Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress, ii. 
To tread on or upon, (a) To trample ; set the foot on in 
contempt. 
Thou shalt tread upon their high places. 
Deut. xxxiii. 2!). 
(Ii) To follow closely. 
Year treads on year. Wordsworth. 
To tread on one's toes, to vex, offend, interfere with, 
or hurt one. 
Presently found he could not turn about 
Nor take a step i' the case and fail to tread 
On some one's toes. 
Browning, Ring and Book, I. 130. 
To tread on or upon the heels of, to follow close upon. 
One woe doth tread upon another's heel. 
Shak., Hamlet, iv. 7. 164. 
To tread on the neck of. See neck. 
II. trriux. 1. To step or walk on. 
My roof receives me not; 'tis air I tread; 
And, at each step, I feel my advanced head 
Knock out a star in heaven ! 
B. Jonson, Sejanus, v. 1. 
She herself had trod Sicilian fields. M. Arnold, Thyrsis. 
2. To beat or-press with the feet: as, a well- 
trodden path. 
I have trodden the winepress alone. Isa. Ixiii. 3. 
They should have stabb'd me where I lay ; . . . 
They should have trttd me into clay. 
Tennyson, Oriana. 
3. To crush under the foot; trample in con- 
tempt or hatred. 
Through thy name will we tread them under that rise up 
against us. Fs. xliv. d. 
Cammomill trodden doth the farther spred, 
And the palme prest the higher lifts his head. 
Times' Whistle (E. E. T. S.), p. 139. 
We should not submit to be trodden quite flat by the 
first heavy-heeled aggressor that came along. 
0. W. Holmes, Professor, iii. 
4. To dance. 
We have measured many miles 
To tread a measure with her on this grass. 
Shak., L. L. L., v. 2. 185. 
5. To walk. 
I am resolv'd 
To forsake Malta, tread a pilgrimage 
To fair Jerusalem, for my lady's soul. 
Beau, and Fl., Knight of Malta, v. 2. 
6. To copulate with or cover, as a bird. 
What shall I say of the House-Cock, which treads any 
hen? /. Walton, Complete Angler, p. 47. 
To tread down, to crush or destroy, as by trampling un- 
der foot. 
Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low ; and 
tread dmcn the wicked in their place. Job xl. 12. 
To tread one's shoes straight, to walk straight; go 
carefully or discreetly ; be circumspect. [Slang.] 
And I've heard the old man say, sir, I was further told, 
how he had to tread his shoes straight about what books 
he showed publicly. 
Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I. 318. 
To tread out. (a) To press out with the feet, as wine or 
grain. 
Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the 
corn. Deut xrv. 4. 
(6) To destroy, extinguish, or obliterate by or as by tread- 
ing or trampling. 
A little fire is quickly trodden out. 
Shak., 3 Hen. VI., iv. 8. 7. 
To tread the bounds. Same as to beat the bounds. See 
bounds. To tread the stage or the boards, to act as 
a stage-player ; perform a part in a drama. 
So once were rang'd the sons of ancient Rome, 
A noble show ! while Roscius trod the stage. 
Cotcper, Task, iii. 697. 
TO tread under foot, to trample on ; despise ; treat with 
contempt. 
If ever men tread underfoot the Son of God, it is when 
they think themselves to be above the need of him. 
Stillingfleet, Sermons, I. vi. 
To tread water, in swimming, to move the feet and 
hands regularly up and down, while keeping the body in 
an erect position, in order to keep the head above the wa- 
ter. 
tread (tred), . [rwd,*. Cf. trade*.'] 1. A 
step or stepping; footing; pressure with the 
foot. 
she is coming, my own, my sweet ; 
Were it ever so airy a tread, 
My heart would hear her and beat. 
Tennyson, Maud, xxii. 11. 
I cross my floor with a nervous tread. 
Whittier, Demon of the Study. 
2f. Way; track; path. See trade' 1 , n., 2. 3. 
Copulation, as of birds. 4. The cicatricula of 
an egg: so called from the former erroneous be- 
lief that it appeared only in fecundated eggs laid 
by the hen after the tread of the cock. Compare 
