† ˈcaitifty, -ivetie Obs.
For forms cf. caitiff.
[a. OF. caitivetet (mod.F. chétiveté):—L. captīvitāt-em captivity, f. captīvus captive.]
1. Captivity.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 23626 Þe gode..sal liue in fredom fre, þe wicked..euer in caitiuete. 1382 Wyclif Ephes. iv. 8 He styȝinge into hiȝ, ledde caitifte caytif. ― Isa. Prol., The ten lynages led in to caitiftie. |
2. Wretchedness, misery.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 7353 Wit caitiuete and care He sal vte o þis werld fare. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 455 My moder has consayved me In syn and in caytefte. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. x. 255 The cause of al þys caitifte · comeþ of meny bisshopes. |
3. Vileness, wicked baseness.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 22382 Quen þat ilk warlau bridd [ante⁓crist] his caitiute has tua yeir kidd. |