caitiff
English
Etymology
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(deprecated template usage) From Middle English caitif, from Anglo-Norman caitif (“captive”), akin to Old French chaitif (French chétif) and Middle Dutch keytyf, from a Vulgar Latin alteration of Latin captīvus (“captive”); compare Italian cattivo (“bad, wicked”). Doublet of captive.
Pronunciation
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
- 1989, Anthony Burgess, The Devil's Mode
- ‘There are plenty of Huns who have defected to the Romans, seeking gold and a quiet life. One of my first tasks as paramount chief is to bring those caitiffs back and crucify them.’
- 1989, Anthony Burgess, The Devil's Mode
Adjective
caitiff (comparative more caitiff, superlative most caitiff)
- Especially despicable; cowardly
- 1809, Washington Irving, Knickerbocker's History of New York:
- Beshrew those caitiff scouts that conspired to sully his honest name by such an imputation!
- 1867, Dante Alighieri, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (translator), The Divine Comedy,
- Commingled are they with that caitiff choir
- Of Angels, who have not rebellious been,
- Nor faithful were to God, but were for self.
- Commingled are they with that caitiff choir
- 1875, Sidney Lanier, The Symphony:
- Is Honor gone into his grave?
- Hath Faith become a caitiff knave,
- And Selfhood turned into a slave
- To work in Mammon’s cave,
- Fair Lady?
- To work in Mammon’s cave,
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Anglo-Norman
- English terms derived from Vulgar Latin
- English terms derived from Latin
- English doublets
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English terms with obsolete senses
- English terms with archaic senses
- English adjectives
- English terms with quotations
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