Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “caitif” come from?

caitif (Middle English) comes from Anglo-Norman caitif, from Vulgar Latin cactivus, from Latin captīvus, from Latin captus, from Latin capiō, from Proto-Italic kapiō, from Proto-Italic kapjō, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂pyéti — to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

caitif (Middle English): A captive, prisoner or hostage; A miser, wretch,...

Definitions

  1. A captive, prisoner or hostage; A miser, wretch,...

Ancestry of “caitif”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Anglo-Normancaitifcaptive; captive, prisoner
2Vulgar Latincactivus—
3Latincaptīvus—
4Latincaptuscaptured, having been captured, seized, having...
5Latincapiō—
6Proto-Italickapiōtake
7Proto-Italickapjōtake, seize
8Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂pyéti—
9Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

Words derived from “caitif”

  • caitiff
  • caytif
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- →