different between treachery vs backstabby

English

Etymology

From Middle English trecherie, from Old French tricherie, trecherie, from tricher, trichier (“to cheat”), from Middle Dutch trek (“a trick”), from trekken (“to draw, play a trick on”). More at trick.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t??t???i/, /?t??t??i/

Noun

treachery (countable and uncountable, plural treacheries)

1. Deliberate, often calculated, disregard for trust or faith.
2. The act of violating the confidence of another, usually for personal gain.
3. Treason.

Synonyms

• Punic faith
• treacherousness

Derived terms

• treacher
• treacherous

Related terms

• trick
• trickster
• tricky

Translations

Further reading

• “treachery” in the Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• treachery in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• treachery in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• treachery at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Alternative forms

• back-stabby

Etymology

backstab +? -y

Adjective

backstabby (comparative backstabbier, superlative backstabbiest)

1. (informal) characteristic of deceit and treachery
   • 2000, Don Aucoin, "Live! From Lexington, It's Rachel Dratch", Boston Globe, 18 February 2000:

     That would seem to be a recipe for constant tension but Dratch says that backstage at SNL is not a competitive backstabby kind of atmosphere.

Synonyms

• backstabbing