The Death of Fissiparous and Other Words: A Dictionary of Words & Phrases on the Verge of Extinction

a dictionary of words and phrases on the verge of extinction — updated daily — for the word obsessed!

REFERENCEER PRESENTS:
the death of fissiparous and other words

A dictionary in progress by CJ Cooney.

Subscribe to RSS
Pronunciation Guide
User's Guide
Archives
Define fissiparous
Define Referenceer

BIO
I'm CJ Cooney, a writer on communication, ideas, culture and history. This blog is a chronicle of my adventures in lexicography.

Contact: .

Visit me at cjcooney.org.

ABOUT THIS PROJECT
If reading were a sin, the average person today would be a saint. And this dictionary in progress would be blasphemy. More...

RECENT POSTS
caitiff

ARCHIVES
» 2009.01
» 2009.02
» 2009.03
» 2009.04
» 2009.05
» 2009.06
» 2009.07
» 2009.08
» 2009.09
» 2009.10
» 2009.11
» 2009.12
» 2010.01
» 2010.02
» 2010.03
» 2010.04
» 2010.05
» 2010.06
» 2010.07
» 2010.08

REFERENCEER
REF-ren-sear. Noun. 1. Anyone who enjoys reading or browsing dictionaries, thesauri, encyclopedias, and other sundry reference materials. 2. A publisher of reference material. 3. CJ's book blog adventure.

caitiff

KAY-tuhf

noun, adjective

a despicable coward; a loathsome wretch

1915Jeffery FarnolMy Lady CapriceBase caitiff, hold!1921Giovanni BoccaccioThe Decameron...you stretch forth your delicate hands and cull the roses, leaving the thorns alone: which, being interpreted, means that you will leave the caitiff husband to abide in sorry plight with his dishonour…1949Henry KuttnerSee You LaterDidn't you realize what this caitiff schmo was planning, the stinkard?

Labels: Giovanni Boccaccio, Henry Kuttner, Jeffery Farnol

	Permalink: caitiff Entry By: CJ Cooney Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
	Back to the main page....