What does caitiff mean?
Caitiff means A base or despicable person; a wretch..
Caitiff
/ˈkeɪtɪf/ · noun
Meaning
A base or despicable person; a wretch..
Definitions by Sense
- A base or despicable person; a wretch.
- (obsolete) A captive or prisoner, particularly a galley slave.
- (archaic) A villain, a coward or wretch.
- Especially despicable; cowardly
Example Sentences
‘There are plenty of Huns who have defected to the Romans, seeking gold and a quiet life. One of my first tasks as paramount chief is to bring those caitiffs back and crucify them.’
(After answering no to Alvina’s question) ‘Hmm, I see. A result most heathenish and gross. Then there is nothing more to say about this tedious reckoning. Be gone from here. Pernicious caitiff.’
"How now, you scullions and cullions: bring hither a pair of cow's hooves to out face this contumelious caitiff."
(Aaron Burr and Andrew Jackson ride together in Tennessee; Burr narrates): Jackson shouted at me his view of the duel. "Never read such a damned lot of nonsense as the press has been writing! All that hypocritical caterwauling for that Creole bastard (referring to Alexander Hamilton) who fought you of his own free will, just like a gentleman which he wasn't, if you'll forgive me, Colonel! I know you couldn't have met him unless you thought he was one, but he was not, Sir. He was the worst man in this union, as you, Sir, are the best. The best, and that goes for that pusillanimous spotted caitiff of a president (referring to Thomas Jefferson) we got.
Beshrew those caitiff scouts that conspired to sully his honest name by such an imputation!
Commingled are they with that caitiff choir Of Angels, who have not rebellious been, Nor faithful were to God, but were for self.
Is Honor gone into his grave? Hath Faith become a caitiff knave And Selfhood turned into a slave To work in Mammon’s cave, Fair Lady?
Synonyms for caitiff
Antonyms for caitiff
Related Words
Word Forms
- caitiffs
- catif
- cative
- catyve
- caitive
- caiteff
- caitiffe
- caytiefe
- caytiffe
- caytive
- more caitiff
- most caitiff
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for caitiff?
Common synonyms include fearful, cowardly.
What is the opposite of caitiff?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use caitiff in a sentence?
‘There are plenty of Huns who have defected to the Romans, seeking gold and a quiet life. One of my first tasks as paramount chief is to bring those caitiffs back and crucify them.’
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.