perfidy

/'pə:fidi/ Cách viết khác : (perfidiousness) /pə:'fidiənis/
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perfidy

A diplomat's perfidy was exposed by the intercepted documents.

Definition

Noun: 1. The act of deliberately betraying a trust or breaking faith: Perfidy refers to a calculated, intentional act of disloyalty or deception, especially when it violates a solemn promise, oath, or duty of allegiance. 2. Treachery or deceitfulness: It denotes the quality of being faithless, untrustworthy, and characterized by a willingness to betray.

Usage

Perfidy is a formal and strong word, typically used in contexts involving serious breaches of trust, such as in politics, war, or deep personal relationships. It implies a profound moral failure.

Examples
  • The general was accused of perfidy for selling military secrets to the enemy.
  • In the story, the knight's perfidy shocked the kingdom, as he had sworn a sacred oath to protect the king.
  • History is filled with tales of political perfidy, where allies became enemies overnight.
Advanced Usage
  • "Perfidy of the deepest kind": Used to emphasize an exceptionally heinous or shocking betrayal.
    • His testimony against his own family was considered a perfidy of the deepest kind.
  • In legal or historical contexts, particularly regarding the laws of war, perfidy refers to acts that feign a protected status (like using a flag of truce or a Red Cross symbol) to deceive and attack an enemy.
Variants and Related Words
  • Perfidious (adjective): Characterized by or involving perfidy; deceitful and untrustworthy.
    • He was known as a perfidious advisor who could not be relied upon.
  • Perfidiously (adverb): In a perfidious manner.
    • The treaty was perfidiously violated within months.
Synonyms
  • Treachery: Betrayal of trust, especially of a profound nature.
  • Betrayal: The act of being disloyal or revealing secrets.
  • Treason: The crime of betraying one's country (a specific, often legal, form of perfidy).
  • Duplicity: Deceitfulness in speech or conduct; double-dealing.
Antonyms
  • Fidelity: Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief.
  • Loyalty: A strong feeling of support or allegiance.
  • Faithfulness: The quality of being true and constant.
Idioms and Phrases
  • While there is no common idiom using the exact word , the concept is central to phrases like:
    • "A stab in the back": A treacherous act of betrayal.
    • "To sell someone down the river": To betray a person, especially for personal gain.
perfidy

A diplomat's perfidy was exposed by the intercepted documents.

Noun
  1. an act of deliberate betrayal
  2. betrayal of a trust

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