caitiff

[ key-tif ]

/ ˈkeɪ tɪf /

Archaic.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR caitiff ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a base, despicable person.

adjective

base; despicable.

Origin of caitiff

1250–1300; Middle English caitif < Anglo-French < Latin captīvus captive

Words nearby caitiff

cairns, cairo, caisson, caisson disease, caithness, caitiff, caitlin, caius, cajal, cajan, cajeput

Example sentences from the Web for caitiff

It is in vain to hope for Checkley's evidence, even should the caitiff priest be living.

Rookwood |William Harrison Ainsworth
The caitiff's club banged my shield down upon my head, but my steel cap bore it well, else my neck were broken.

With the Black Prince |William Osborn Stoddard
The constable has sworn that the caitiff had pea-green hair.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, October 6, 1894 |Various
And what, Cura, wouldst thou term the caitiff who advisedly was bearer of treacherous intelligence?

The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, And His Man Mark Antony O'Toole |W. H. Maxwell

Think not of us—think not of revenging yourself upon this caitiff.

Guy Fawkes |William Harrison Ainsworth

British Dictionary definitions for caitiff

caitiff

/ (ˈkeɪtɪf) archaic, or poetic /

noun

a cowardly or base person

adjective

cowardly; base

Word Origin for caitiff

C13: from Old French caitif prisoner, from Latin captīvus captive

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

caitiff

noun

adjective

Origin of caitiff

Words nearby caitiff

Example sentences from the Web for caitiff

British Dictionary definitions for caitiff

noun

adjective

Word Origin for caitiff

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

caitiff

noun

adjective

Origin of caitiff

Words nearby caitiff

Words related to caitiff

Example sentences from the Web for caitiff

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noun

adjective

Word Origin for caitiff

British Dictionary definitions for caitiff