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chétif. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
chétif, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
chétif in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
chétif you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
Borrowed from French chétif. Doublet of captive and caitiff.
Adjective
chétif (comparative more chétif, superlative most chétif)
- Sickly; weak.
1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York, published 2007, page 130:It was hard to believe this gay, good-looking young chap, laughing and making mock of the very religion he was going into, was the chétif little boy who used to follow the big Horace everywhere and couldn't live without him.
Anagrams
French
Etymology
Inherited from Old French chaitif, caitif, from Vulgar Latin *cactivus, from a combination of Latin captīvus (“prisoner”) with Transalpine Gaulish *caxtos, from Proto-Celtic *kaxtos (compare Irish cacht, Welsh caeth). Compare also Italian cattivo (“bad”). See also French captif, a borrowed doublet.
Pronunciation
Adjective
chétif (feminine chétive, masculine plural chétifs, feminine plural chétives)
- puny, scrawny
- meagre, paltry
2018 October 1, “Mort de Charles Aznavour : soixante-douze ans de carrière en six chansons et anecdotes”, in Le Monde:Repéré en 1946 par Edith Piaf en personne, le chanteur peine à s’imposer. Son physique chétif, sa voix si particulière, son style ne séduisent pas.- Spotted in 1946 by Edith Piaf herself, the singer struggled to establish himself. His puny physique, his unique voice, his style, do not seduce.
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