Middle English Dictionary Entry
caitī̆f adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | caitī̆f adj. Comp. caitiv(e)r. Sup. catifest. |
| Etymology | AF caitif & CF chaitif. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Captured, imprisoned; enslaved; leden ~, to lead (sb.) captive, enslave.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.5.13 : Therfor lad caitif [L captivus] is my puple.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Eph.4.8 : He..ledde caitifte caytif.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1552 : I am so caytif [vrr. kaytif, Catif] and so thral, That..I serue hym as his squyer.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)262/20 : Ofte he bouhte of prisoun Caytyf men wiþ gret Raunsoun.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.12.29 : The first gotun of the caytif woman, that was in prisoun.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.7.23 : I see an oþer lagh in my membrys..ledyng me caytife in to þe lagh of synne.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)34 : Freedom of chesyng of good or yuel..hadde man in paradijs free y-nouȝ; now forsoþe it is caytif, for man now wilneþ no good but grace of god go bifore.
2.
(a) Unhappy, miserable, unfortunate; (b) poor, humble; foul in appearance; worthless; (c) wicked, base; cowardly or covetous.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)137.11 : Ha, þou soule..þou art chaitif [vr. wrechid; L misera].
- c1390 Talking LGod (Vrn)10/23 : Þe cumfort of hem þat hem felen caytif wrecches.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.344 : Allas, I kaytif [vrr. caytiff, catiff, keytif] man!
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9086 : Helpe me in þis caitiue [Frf: caytef] cas.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1605 : He kevered hym wyth his counsayl of caytyf wyrdes.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)3026 : Alas, unwitti men, Caytiff Troyens, and wymmen!
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)58 : Caytyffe: Calamitosus, dolorosus.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)30.61 : Thow man Caytyf, ful of disseise, why nisse ther non thing that the May plese?
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)410/271 : Mi Kaytiffe herte will breke in three.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)339/69 : Bot alas! that euer I woke that carefull, catyf nyght.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.344 : Who shal delyuere me fro the prison of my kaytif [vr. catif] body?
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)15.90 : Noþer in cote noþer in caytyf hous was crist ybore.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)23.236 : Þei chosen chile and caytif [vrr. chaitife, cheityf; B vr. chaytijf] pouerte.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)211 : Ful fade and caytif was she eek.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)145/8 : In steed of aray of oure bodys we vse a vile clathe for to couer with oure caytiff carayne.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)115/244 : Þat es a caytif lovyng þat any welth of þe worlde makes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1775 : Vnneth may þou forthe þine awen caitefe [Dub: catef] cors to clethe & to fede.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1707 : Þai in perchemyn depayntyd..The catyfest creatur þat credylytt was euer.
c
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Abp.& N.(Phys-E)p.90 : Ic am a kaitif lechour, And ille man, and goddes traytour.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23778 : Qua herd a caitiuer [Phys-E: caitiur]..crachun, þat will noght bide to giue a spurn?
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1426 : A caytif counsayl he caȝt bi hymselven.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)1345 : Þe kaytef senatoure Gase to loke his lord tresoure.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)221/59 : But of þis caytiffe kynreden We knawe þe encrese.