sb. and a. Forms: α. 4 caitef, -teff, -tyf, -tyue, kaitif, kaytefe, 4–5 caytef, -tif, -tyf, -tyue, kaytiff, (4–6 pl. kaytyves), 4–7 caitife, -tive, caytife, -tive, 4–8 caitif, 5 kaytif(f)e, catyffe, (caistiff), Sc. catif, (pl. keyteyues, caytyveys, catyves), 5–6 kaytyf, 5–7 caytiffe, 6 caytyfe, -ttiue, -tief(e, catif, Sc. catife, -tive, -tyue, (pl. Sc. catevis), 6–7 caitiffe, catiffe, (pl. catives), 7 catife, 7– caitiff. β. 4 chaytif, cheitefe, chaitif, 5 chaytyf. [a. ONF. caitif, caitive, captive, weak, miserable (= Pr. caitiu, captiu, -iva, OCat. captiu, -iva, Sp. cautivo, OSp. captivo, Pg. cativo captive, It. cattivo captive, lewd, bad):—L. captīv-um CAPTIVE. The central OF. form chaitif (whence mod.F. chétif, -ive, of little value, wretched, sorry, miserable) gave the Eng. variant chaitif, frequent in 14–15th c., but did not displace the earlier Norman form. The transition of meaning has taken place more or less in most of the Romanic langs.]
A. sb.
† 1. Originally: A captive, a prisoner. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 172. Galwes do ȝe reise, and hyng þis cheitefe.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter cxxxvi. 3. The deuyl & his aungels led vs caitifs in synne.
1382. Wyclif, Rom. xvi. 7. Andronyk and Iuliane … myn euene caytifs, or prisoneris.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., 479. Thei … that … leden Wommen Caitifis.
1502. Arnolde, Chron., 161. In whoos power he is kepte as a kaytyf in myserable seruitude.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. (1822), 164. Thay have led you this day as vincust catives in triumphe.
1603. H. Crosse, Vertues Commw. (1878), 14. As catiues and slaues bend the will to such inhumane crueltie.
† 2. Expressing commiseration: A wretched miserable person, a poor wretch, one in a piteous case. Obs.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 31. Hou sal it far of us kaytefes, That in sin and foli lyes.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 859. Tuo woful wrecches been we, and kaytyves.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., v. (1520), 56/1. Alas sayd he, to us wretches and catyves is sorowe for our greate synnes.
a. 1547. Surrey, Æneid, II. 977. From me catif alas bereued was Creusa then.
1604. Shaks., Oth., IV. i. 109. Alas poore Caitiffe.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 46. The carcase of the poore caitiffe.
1678. Butler, Hud., II. I. 344. I pity’d the sad Punishment The wretched Caitiff underwent.
3. Expressing contempt, and often involving strong moral disapprobation: A base, mean, despicable ‘wretch,’ a villain. In early use often not separable from sense 2 (esp. when applied by any one to himself): ‘it often implies a mixture of wickedness and misery’ J.; cf. wretch.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11815. Þat caitif [Herod] vn-meth and vn-meke Nu bigines he to seke.
c. 1330. Amis & Amil., 1564. His wiif … With wordes hard and kene … seyd to him ‘Thou wreche chaitif.’
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10352. As a caiteff, a coward, no knighthode at all.
1481. Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 96. He is a foule vylaynous kaytyf.
1509. Barclay, Ship of Fooles (1570), 173. Another caytife or mischieuous vilayne.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 53. The wickedst caitiffe on the ground.
1632. G. Fletcher, Christs Vict., I. xvii. That wretch, beast, caytive, monster Man.
1713. Swift, Frenzy of J. Dennis, Wks. 1755, III. I. 144. Caitiffs stand off, unhand me, miscreants!
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. v. 274. Two caitiffs … whose names are handed down to infamy.
¶ † Rarely as an error for caitifte: see CAITIFTY.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xiii. 11. Lord has turned away þe caitife of his folke.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 7353 (Trin.). Wiþ caitif [Cott. caitiuete] and care.
B. adj.
† 1. Captive. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. v. 13. Therfor lad caitif is my puple. Ibid., Ephes. iv. 8. He … ledde caitifte caytif, or prysonynge prisoned.
† 2. Wretched, miserable. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9086. Yee helpe me in þis caitiue cas.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XV. 90, Noþer in cote noþer in caytyf hous was crist y-bore. Ibid., XXIII. 236. Þei chosen chile and chaytif pouerte.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 211. Ful sade and caytif was she eek.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 58. Catyffe, calamitosus, dolorosus.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, I. (Arb.), 35. Wee caytiefe Troians, with storms ventositye mangled.
3. Vile, base, mean, basely wicked; worthless, ‘wretched,’ ‘miserable.’
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16517. Ded es caitiue iudas nu.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1426. A caytif counsayl he caȝt bi hym seluen.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, A vij. When the chaytyf body hath synned by his fals delytes.
1597. Bp. Hall, Sat., IV. ii. 120. When Lolioes caytive name is quite defast.
1626. T. H., trans. Caussin’s Holy Crt., 130. An age so caytiffe, where braue, and courageous magistrates are wanting.
1814. Scott, Ld. Isles, VI. xxxi. [He] cursed their caitiff fears.
1859. Tennyson, Enid, 35. Bandit earls, and caitiff knights.
1871. Browning, Balaust., 1804. This or the other caitiff quality.
