Etymology Explorer › Middle English

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

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishcaitifA captive, prisoner or hostage; A miser, wretch,...
2Anglo-Normancaitifcaptive; captive, prisoner
3Vulgar Latincactivus—
4Latincaptīvus—
5Latincaptuscaptured, having been captured, seized, having...
6Latincapiō—
7Proto-Italickapiōtake
8Proto-Italickapjōtake, seize
9Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂pyéti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- →