perfidy

Definitions

per- (through, to the point of destruction) + fid (faith) = faith broken right through. Perfidy is calculated, treacherous betrayal of someone who trusted you — stronger and more literary than plain 'betrayal.'

Why It Means This

Perfidy is the dark end of the trust spectrum. Where confide and fidelity are about trust given and kept, per- (all the way through) drives faith to its breaking point: a betrayal that is deliberate and treacherous, not a mere change of heart. It carries a moral, almost literary weight, which is why it shows up in history and rhetoric more than casual speech.

Common Collocations

• 1.act of perfidy背信行为
• 2.guilty of perfidy犯有背叛之罪

Example Sentences

• 1.

  His perfidy cost the rebels their last safe haven.

• 2.

  History remembers the general's perfidy with contempt.

Synonym Comparison