caitif

Middle English

Alternative forms

• caytyf, caitijf, caytif, chaitif, kaytif, caytyve, caytef, caytyff, kaytyff, caiteff, caytyffe, kaytiffe

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman caitif, from Latin captīvus. Doublet of captif.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kæi̯ˈtiːf/, /ˈkæi̯tif/

Noun

caitif (plural caitifes)

1. A captive, prisoner or hostage.
2. A miser, wretch, pauper or beggar; a miserable person
   • Late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, "The Knight's Tale", The Canterbury Tales

     For, certes, lord, þer is noon of us alle / Þat she ne haþ been a duchesse or a queene. / Now be we caytyves, as it is wel seene, / Þanked be Fortune and hire false wheel

3. A despicable or evil person.
4. (rare) The state of being held hostage.

Descendants

• English: caitiff
• Scots: catif (obsolete)

References

• “caitī̆f, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-26.

Adjective

caitif (comparative caitiver, superlative catifest)

1. In captivity or jail; kidnapped.
2. Driven to despair; saddened.
3. miserly, of little means.
4. malicious, bad, sinful, heartless.

Descendants

• English: caitiff

References

• “caitī̆f, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-26.

Old French

Alternative forms

• chaitif
• chatif
• cheitif

Etymology

From Vulgar Latin *cactivus, from a crossing of Latin captīvus and a Transalpine Gaulish caxtos, from Proto-Celtic *kaxtos. Cognate with Old Occitan caitiu.

Noun

caitif oblique singular, m (oblique plural caitis, nominative singular caitis, nominative plural caitif)

1. captive, prisoner

Declension

	Case	masculine	feminine
singular	subject	caitifs	caitive
	oblique	caitif	caitive
plural	subject	caitif	caitives
	oblique	caitifs	caitives

Descendants

• English: caitiff (archaic)
• French: chétif