caitiff

== English == === Alternative forms === (obsolete) catif, cative, catyve, caitive, caiteff, caitiffe, caytiefe, caytiffe, caytive === Etymology === From Middle English caitif, from Anglo-Norman caitif (“captive”), akin to Old French chaitif (French chétif) and Middle Dutch keytyf, from a Vulgar Latin *cactīvus alteration via Gaulish influence from Latin captīvus (“captive”); compare Italian cattivo (“bad, wicked”). Doublet of captive. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈkeɪtɪf/ === Noun === caitiff (plural caitiffs) A base or despicable person; a wretch. (obsolete) A captive or prisoner, particularly a galley slave. (archaic) A villain, a coward or wretch. === Adjective === caitiff (comparative more caitiff, superlative most caitiff) Especially despicable; cowardly === References === “caitiff, n, a.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2023.