waif — a homeless, neglected, or abandoned person, especially a child
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a homeless, neglected, or abandoned person, especially a child
Pronunciation (IPA): /weɪf/
Example Sentences
- The kind lady took the waif home and gave him a warm meal.
- Don't let that innocent look fool you - that waif just stole my wallet!
- The movie tells the story of a waif who becomes a famous chef.
waif
NOUN[/weɪf/]
a homeless, neglected, or abandoned person, especially a child
Abandoned homeless child alone
Every waif deserves to be safe!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Waif originates from 14th-century Middle English, initially denoting 'ownerless property' or 'unclaimed goods', particularly in legal contexts referring to items without a known proprietor. The word gradually shifted in meaning to describe 'an abandoned or homeless person', reflecting social changes and broader application to human subjects rather than material goods.
Breakdown
The word waif has no productive morphological components; it is a single, unanalyzable root from Middle English waif meaning 'unclaimed property or person', with the semantic evolution from concrete legal term (ownerless goods) to human application (abandoned child or vagrant).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The kind lady took the waif home and gave him a warm meal.”
“Don't let that innocent look fool you - that waif just stole my wallet!”
“The movie tells the story of a waif who becomes a famous chef.”
“She looked like a waif in that oversized coat.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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