Where does “caytif” come from?

caytif (Middle English) comes from Middle English caitif, 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 — to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

caytif (Middle English): Alternative form of caitif

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of caitif

Ancestry of “caytif”, step by step

caytif traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English caitif

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishcaitifA captive, prisoner or hostage; A miser, wretch,...
2Anglo-Normancaitifcaptive; captive, prisoner
3Vulgar Latincactivus
4Latincaptīvusa captive, a prisoner
5Latincaptuscaptured, having been captured, seized, having...
6Latincapiōto take, to capture, to catch, to seize, to take captive, to storm
7Proto-Italickapiōtake
8Proto-Italickapjōtake, seize
9Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂pyéti
10Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

via Old French caitif

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchcaitifcaptive, prisoner
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p-Every word from Proto-Indo-European kh₂pyétiEvery word from Proto-Italic kapjō
caytif — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer