English

Adjective

chétif ‎(comparative more chétif, superlative most chétif)

1. Sickly; weak.
   • 1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York 2007, p. 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.

French

Etymology

From Old French chaitif, caitif, from Vulgar Latin *cactivus, from a combination of Latin captīvus ‎(“prisoner”) with Transalpine Gaulish *cactos (compare Irish cacht, Breton caez). Compare also Italian cattivo ‎(“bad”). See also French captif, a borrowed doublet.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃetif/

Adjective

chétif m ‎(feminine singular chétive, masculine plural chétifs, feminine plural chétives)

1. puny, scrawny
2. meagre, paltry