CAITIFF

caitiff. Caitiff, a. mean, base, sorry, despicable, knavish

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Cai″tiff (?), a. [[OE. caitif, cheitif, captive, miserable, OF. caitif, chaitif, captive, mean, wretched, F. chétif, fr. L. captivus captive, fr. capere to take, akin to E. heave. See Heave, and cf. Captive.]] 1. 1. Captive; wretched; unfortunate. Chaucer.
2. 2. Base; wicked and mean; cowardly; despicable.
Arnold had sped his caitiff flight. W. Irving.