A caitiff is a cowardly and despicable person or described as such.
A caitiff is a cowardly and despicable person or described as such.
| Front | caitiff \KAY-tif\ |
|---|---|
| Back | noun A cowardly and despicable person. adjective Cowardly, despicable. [Via French from Latin captivus (captive), from capere (to seize). Ultimately from the Indo-European root kap- (to grasp), which is also the root of captive, capsule, capable, capture, cable, chassis, occupy, deceive, captious, and gaff. Earliest documented use: Before 1300.] "I followed him through the streets, listening to his rant, the insults directed at me for knowing cutpurses and caitiffs, and how dare I lead him into such dens of ordure." - Frank McCourt; From an Affair with Books to a Book Fair; The New York Times; Sep 19, 1997. |
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