Meaning & Definition of word "Orphan"
Orphan
/ˈɔːrfən/
noun:
- 1. a child whose parents are deceased.
- Example: The orphan was taken in by a caring foster family.
- 2. a person or animal that has lost one or both parents.
- Example: The puppy was an orphan after being abandoned by its mother.
- 3. something that is not owned or not taken care of.
- Example: The orphaned books on the shelf need a new home.
verb:
- 1. to deprive of a parent or parents.
- Example: The war orphaned many children who were left without guardians.
- 2. to leave without the necessary caretakers or supporters.
- Example: The sudden closure of the school orphaned several students with no alternative education.
Etymology
●Middle English: from Old French 'orfeinse', based on Latin 'orphanus', from Greek 'orphanos'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
orphan drug:
A drug developed to treat rare diseases.
orphan works:
Works whose copyright status is unclear or not protected.
social orphan:
A child who has lost their parents due to abandonment or neglect rather than death.
Related Words
orphanage:
A residential institution for children without parents.
orphaned:
Having lost a parent or parents.
foster care:
A system of temporary care for children without parents.
Slang Meanings of orphan
Meaning: To be left alone or abandoned.
● Example Sentence: I felt orphaned in that big city after my friends left.
Meaning: To neglect someone or something, leaving it to fend for itself.
● Example Sentence: They really orphaned that project when no one showed up to help.