See caitiff on Wiktionary
{
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*kap-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*keh₂p-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "caitif"
},
"expansion": "Middle English caitif",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "xno",
"3": "caitif",
"4": "",
"5": "captive"
},
"expansion": "Anglo-Norman caitif (“captive”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "fro",
"2": "chaitif"
},
"expansion": "Old French chaitif",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "fr",
"2": "chétif"
},
"expansion": "French chétif",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "dum",
"2": "keytyf"
},
"expansion": "Middle Dutch keytyf",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "VL.",
"3": "-"
},
"expansion": "Vulgar Latin",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "captīvus",
"4": "",
"5": "captive"
},
"expansion": "Latin captīvus (“captive”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "it",
"2": "cattivo",
"3": "",
"4": "bad, wicked"
},
"expansion": "Italian cattivo (“bad, wicked”)",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "captive"
},
"expansion": "Doublet of captive",
"name": "doublet"
}
],
"etymology_text": "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.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "caitiffs",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "caitiff (plural caitiffs)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1989, Anthony Burgess, The Devil's Mode:",
"text": "‘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.’",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A base or despicable person; a wretch."
],
"id": "en-caitiff-en-noun-UXKC0U0Z",
"links": [
[
"base",
"base"
],
[
"despicable",
"despicable"
],
[
"wretch",
"wretch"
]
]
},
{
"categories": [
{
"_dis": "2 6 89 3",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [
"Entries with incorrect language header",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "2 5 89 4",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Pages with 1 entry",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "2 4 90 4",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Pages with entries",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "17 24 33 26",
"kind": "topical",
"langcode": "en",
"name": "People",
"orig": "en:People",
"parents": [
"Human",
"All topics",
"Fundamental"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 44:",
"text": "\"How now, you scullions and cullions: bring hither a pair of cow's hooves to out face this contumelious caitiff.\"",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A captive or prisoner, particularly a galley slave."
],
"id": "en-caitiff-en-noun-JduNBDFX",
"links": [
[
"captive",
"captive"
],
[
"prisoner",
"prisoner"
],
[
"galley slave",
"galley slave"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete) A captive or prisoner, particularly a galley slave."
],
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
},
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1973, Gore Vidal, Burr, chapter 36",
"text": "(Aaron Burr and Andrew Jackson ride together in Tennessee; Burr narrates): Jackson shouted at me his view of the duel. \"Never read such a damned lot of nonsense as the press has been writing! All that hypocritical caterwauling for that Creole bastard (referring to Alexander Hamilton) who fought you of his own free will, just like a gentleman which he wasn't, if you'll forgive me, Colonel! I know you couldn't have met him unless you thought he was one, but he was not, Sir. He was the worst man in this union, as you, Sir, are the best. The best, and that goes for that pusillanimous spotted caitiff of a president (referring to Thomas Jefferson) we got."
}
],
"glosses": [
"A villain, a coward or wretch."
],
"id": "en-caitiff-en-noun-gBbrxtiZ",
"links": [
[
"villain",
"villain"
],
[
"coward",
"coward"
],
[
"wretch",
"wretch"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(archaic) A villain, a coward or wretch."
],
"tags": [
"archaic"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈkeɪtɪf/"
}
],
"word": "caitiff"
}
{
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*kap-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*keh₂p-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "caitif"
},
"expansion": "Middle English caitif",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "xno",
"3": "caitif",
"4": "",
"5": "captive"
},
"expansion": "Anglo-Norman caitif (“captive”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "fro",
"2": "chaitif"
},
"expansion": "Old French chaitif",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "fr",
"2": "chétif"
},
"expansion": "French chétif",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "dum",
"2": "keytyf"
},
"expansion": "Middle Dutch keytyf",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "VL.",
"3": "-"
},
"expansion": "Vulgar Latin",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "captīvus",
"4": "",
"5": "captive"
},
"expansion": "Latin captīvus (“captive”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "it",
"2": "cattivo",
"3": "",
"4": "bad, wicked"
},
"expansion": "Italian cattivo (“bad, wicked”)",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "captive"
},
"expansion": "Doublet of captive",
"name": "doublet"
}
],
"etymology_text": "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.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "more caitiff",
"tags": [
"comparative"
]
},
{
"form": "most caitiff",
"tags": [
"superlative"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "caitiff (comparative more caitiff, superlative most caitiff)",
"name": "en-adj"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "adj",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1809, Washington Irving, Knickerbocker's History of New York:",
"text": "Beshrew those caitiff scouts that conspired to sully his honest name by such an imputation!",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1867, Dante Alighieri, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Divine Comedy:",
"text": "Commingled are they with that caitiff choir\nOf Angels, who have not rebellious been,\nNor faithful were to God, but were for self.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1875, Sidney Lanier, The Symphony:",
"text": "Is Honor gone into his grave?\nHath Faith become a caitiff knave\nAnd Selfhood turned into a slave\n To work in Mammon’s cave,\n Fair Lady?",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Especially despicable; cowardly"
],
"id": "en-caitiff-en-adj-XZat0J7P",
"links": [
[
"despicable",
"despicable"
],
[
"cowardly",
"cowardly"
]
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈkeɪtɪf/"
}
],
"word": "caitiff"
}
{
"categories": [
"English adjectives",
"English countable nouns",
"English doublets",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms derived from Anglo-Norman",
"English terms derived from Latin",
"English terms derived from Middle English",
"English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
"English terms derived from Vulgar Latin",
"English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *kap-",
"English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *keh₂p-",
"English terms inherited from Middle English",
"Pages with 1 entry",
"Pages with entries",
"en:People"
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*kap-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*keh₂p-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "caitif"
},
"expansion": "Middle English caitif",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "xno",
"3": "caitif",
"4": "",
"5": "captive"
},
"expansion": "Anglo-Norman caitif (“captive”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "fro",
"2": "chaitif"
},
"expansion": "Old French chaitif",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "fr",
"2": "chétif"
},
"expansion": "French chétif",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "dum",
"2": "keytyf"
},
"expansion": "Middle Dutch keytyf",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "VL.",
"3": "-"
},
"expansion": "Vulgar Latin",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "captīvus",
"4": "",
"5": "captive"
},
"expansion": "Latin captīvus (“captive”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "it",
"2": "cattivo",
"3": "",
"4": "bad, wicked"
},
"expansion": "Italian cattivo (“bad, wicked”)",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "captive"
},
"expansion": "Doublet of captive",
"name": "doublet"
}
],
"etymology_text": "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.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "caitiffs",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "caitiff (plural caitiffs)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"Quotation templates to be cleaned"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1989, Anthony Burgess, The Devil's Mode:",
"text": "‘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.’",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A base or despicable person; a wretch."
],
"links": [
[
"base",
"base"
],
[
"despicable",
"despicable"
],
[
"wretch",
"wretch"
]
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with obsolete senses",
"English terms with quotations"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 44:",
"text": "\"How now, you scullions and cullions: bring hither a pair of cow's hooves to out face this contumelious caitiff.\"",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A captive or prisoner, particularly a galley slave."
],
"links": [
[
"captive",
"captive"
],
[
"prisoner",
"prisoner"
],
[
"galley slave",
"galley slave"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete) A captive or prisoner, particularly a galley slave."
],
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with archaic senses",
"English terms with quotations"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1973, Gore Vidal, Burr, chapter 36",
"text": "(Aaron Burr and Andrew Jackson ride together in Tennessee; Burr narrates): Jackson shouted at me his view of the duel. \"Never read such a damned lot of nonsense as the press has been writing! All that hypocritical caterwauling for that Creole bastard (referring to Alexander Hamilton) who fought you of his own free will, just like a gentleman which he wasn't, if you'll forgive me, Colonel! I know you couldn't have met him unless you thought he was one, but he was not, Sir. He was the worst man in this union, as you, Sir, are the best. The best, and that goes for that pusillanimous spotted caitiff of a president (referring to Thomas Jefferson) we got."
}
],
"glosses": [
"A villain, a coward or wretch."
],
"links": [
[
"villain",
"villain"
],
[
"coward",
"coward"
],
[
"wretch",
"wretch"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(archaic) A villain, a coward or wretch."
],
"tags": [
"archaic"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈkeɪtɪf/"
}
],
"word": "caitiff"
}
{
"categories": [
"English adjectives",
"English countable nouns",
"English doublets",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms derived from Anglo-Norman",
"English terms derived from Latin",
"English terms derived from Middle English",
"English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
"English terms derived from Vulgar Latin",
"English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *kap-",
"English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *keh₂p-",
"English terms inherited from Middle English",
"Pages with 1 entry",
"Pages with entries",
"en:People"
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*kap-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*keh₂p-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "caitif"
},
"expansion": "Middle English caitif",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "xno",
"3": "caitif",
"4": "",
"5": "captive"
},
"expansion": "Anglo-Norman caitif (“captive”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "fro",
"2": "chaitif"
},
"expansion": "Old French chaitif",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "fr",
"2": "chétif"
},
"expansion": "French chétif",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "dum",
"2": "keytyf"
},
"expansion": "Middle Dutch keytyf",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "VL.",
"3": "-"
},
"expansion": "Vulgar Latin",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "captīvus",
"4": "",
"5": "captive"
},
"expansion": "Latin captīvus (“captive”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "it",
"2": "cattivo",
"3": "",
"4": "bad, wicked"
},
"expansion": "Italian cattivo (“bad, wicked”)",
"name": "cog"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "captive"
},
"expansion": "Doublet of captive",
"name": "doublet"
}
],
"etymology_text": "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.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "more caitiff",
"tags": [
"comparative"
]
},
{
"form": "most caitiff",
"tags": [
"superlative"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "caitiff (comparative more caitiff, superlative most caitiff)",
"name": "en-adj"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "adj",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"Quotation templates to be cleaned"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1809, Washington Irving, Knickerbocker's History of New York:",
"text": "Beshrew those caitiff scouts that conspired to sully his honest name by such an imputation!",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1867, Dante Alighieri, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Divine Comedy:",
"text": "Commingled are they with that caitiff choir\nOf Angels, who have not rebellious been,\nNor faithful were to God, but were for self.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1875, Sidney Lanier, The Symphony:",
"text": "Is Honor gone into his grave?\nHath Faith become a caitiff knave\nAnd Selfhood turned into a slave\n To work in Mammon’s cave,\n Fair Lady?",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Especially despicable; cowardly"
],
"links": [
[
"despicable",
"despicable"
],
[
"cowardly",
"cowardly"
]
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈkeɪtɪf/"
}
],
"word": "caitiff"
}
Download raw JSONL data for caitiff meaning in All languages combined (7.7kB)
This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable All languages combined dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-01-25 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-01-20 using wiktextract (c15a5ce and 5c11237). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.
If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.