orphan

Meanings

Noun

  • A person, especially a minor, both or (rarely) one of whose parents have died.
  • A person, especially a minor, whose parents have permanently abandoned them.
  • A young animal with no mother.
  • Anything that is unsupported, as by its source, provider or caretaker, by reason of the supporter's demise or decision to abandon.
  • A single line of type, beginning a paragraph, at the bottom of a column or page.
  • Any unreferenced object.

Adjective

Verb

Origin

  • Late Middle English, from Late Latin orphanus, from Ancient Greek ὀρφανός ("without parents, fatherless"), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃órbʰos.
  • Cognate with Sanskrit अर्भ, Latin orbus ("orphaned"), Old High German erbi, arbi (German Erbe ("heir")), Old English ierfa ("heir"). More at erf.

Modern English dictionary

Explore and search massive catalog of over 900,000 word meanings.

Word of the Day

Get a curated memorable word every day.

Challenge yourself

Level up your vocabulary by setting personal goals.

And much more

Try out Vedaist now.