orphan [orphanorphansorphanedorphaning] noun, verb BrE [ˈɔːfn] NAmE [ˈɔːrfn] noun a child whose parents are dead •He was an orphan and lived with his uncle. •orphan boys/girls
Word Origin: late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek orphanos ‘bereaved’.
Example Bank: •a poor little orphan
verb usually passive ~ sb to make a child an ↑orphan •She was orphaned in the war. Verb forms:
Word Origin: late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek orphanos ‘bereaved’.