- tradition (n.)
- late 14c., from Old French tradicion (late 13c.), from Latin traditionem (nominative traditio) "delivery, surrender, a handing down," from traditus, past participle of tradere "deliver, hand over," from trans- "over" (see trans-) + dare "to give" (see date (n.1)). The word is a doublet of treason (q.v.). The notion in the modern sense of the word is of things "handed down" from generation to generation.