ɪn ˈoʊld ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ lˈɔː, ɐ kˈæpaɪt fɹʌm lˈætɪn kˈæpʊt, hˈɛd wʌzɐ tˈɛnjɚɹ ɪn sˌʌbɪnfjuːdˈeɪʃən, baɪ wˌɪtʃ ˈiːðɚ pˈɜːsən ɔːɹ lˈænd wʌz hˈɛld ɪmˈiːdɪətli ʌvðə kˈɪŋ, ɔːɹ ʌv hɪz kɹˈaʊn, ˈiːðɚ baɪ nˈaɪtsˈɜːvɪs ɔːɹ sˈɑːkeɪdʒ.
In old English law, a capite (from Latin caput, head) was a tenure in subinfeudation, by which either person or land was held immediately of the king, or of his crown, either by knight-service or socage.