noun

1. Obsolete a surrender or betrayal
2. 1. the handing down orally of stories, beliefs, customs, etc. from generation to generation
   2. a story, belief, custom, proverb, etc. handed down in this way
3. a historical line of conventions, principles, or attitudes characteristic of a school, social group, movement, etc. the realist tradition in literature
4. a long-established custom or practice having the effect of precedent or unwritten law
5. Law delivery (sense )
6. Theol.
   1. among Jews, the unwritten religious code and doctrine regarded as handed down from Moses
   2. among Christians, the unwritten teachings regarded as handed down from Jesus and the Apostles
   3. among Muslims, the sayings and acts attributed to Mohammed and transmitted orally

Etymology: ME tradycion < MFr tradicion < L traditio, a surrender, delivery, tradition < traditus, pp. of tradere, to deliver: see treason