benedict arnold

English - English

Definition of benedict arnold in English English dictionary

A traitor

an American military leader, who betrayed his country when he changed to support the British during the American Revolutionary War (1741-1801). born Jan. 14, 1741, Norwich, Conn. died June 14, 1801, London, Eng. American army officer and traitor. He joined the American Revolutionary army in 1775 and contributed to American victories at the Battle of Ticonderoga, at Fort Stanwix, N.Y., and at the Battle of Saratoga, where he was seriously wounded. He was made a major general and placed in command of Philadelphia, where he lived extravagantly and socialized with wealthy loyalist sympathizers, one of whom he married in 1779. Reprimanded for fiscal irregularities in his command, he began secret overtures to the British. After receiving command of the fort at West Point, N.Y. (1780), he offered to surrender it to the British for 20,000. The plot was uncovered after his British contact, John André, was captured. Arnold escaped on a British ship to England, where he died penniless

{i} (1741-1801) American General who fought in the Revolutionary War (famous for turning traitor and helping the British)

Related Terms

Benedict Arnolds

plural form of Benedict Arnold

Hyphenation

ben·e·dict Ar·nold

Turkish pronunciation

benıdîkt ärnıld

Synonyms

backstabber, betrayer, brutus, defector, deserter, double agent, double-crosser, fink, informer, judas, quisling, snake in the grass, snitch, spy, stool pigeon

Pronunciation

/ˈbenəˌdəkt ˈärnəld/ /ˈbɛnəˌdɪkt ˈɑːrnəld/

Etymology

() From Benedict Arnold, famous for betraying the United States during the Revolutionary War.