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Translate files Orphan
/ˈɔːrfən/
Meaning & Definition
noun
a child whose parents are deceased.
The orphan was taken in by a caring foster family.
a person or animal that has lost one or both parents.
The puppy was an orphan after being abandoned by its mother.
something that is not owned or not taken care of.
The orphaned books on the shelf need a new home.
verb
to deprive of a parent or parents.
The war orphaned many children who were left without guardians.
to leave without the necessary caretakers or supporters.
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
Slang Meanings
To be left alone or abandoned.
I felt orphaned in that big city after my friends left.
To neglect someone or something, leaving it to fend for itself.
They really orphaned that project when no one showed up to help.