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) A captive, prisoner or hostage. 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 A despicable or evil person. (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 26 April 2018. === Adjective === caitif (comparative caitiver, superlative catifest) In captivity or jail; kidnapped. Driven to despair; saddened. miserly, of little means. malicious, bad, sinful, heartless. ==== Descendants ==== English: caitiff ==== References ==== “caitī̆f, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 26 April 2018. == 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) captive, prisoner ==== Declension ==== ==== Descendants ==== English: caitiff (archaic) French: chétif Middle Dutch: katijf, caytijf, keytive