ORPHAN

orphan

(noun) a young animal without a mother

orphan

(noun) the first line of a paragraph that is set as the last line of a page or column

orphan

(noun) a child who has lost both parents

orphan

(noun) someone or something who lacks support or care or supervision

orphan

(verb) deprive of parents

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

orphan (plural orphans)

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.

(figuratively) Anything that is unsupported, as by its source, provider or caretaker, by reason of the supporter's demise or decision to abandon.

(typography) A single line of type, beginning a paragraph, at the bottom of a column or page.

(computing) Any unreferenced object.

Adjective

orphan (not comparable)

Deprived of parents (also orphaned).

(by extension, figuratively) Remaining after the removal of some form of support.

Verb

orphan (third-person singular simple present orphans, present participle orphaning, simple past and past participle orphaned)

(transitive) To deprive of parents (used almost exclusively in the passive)

(transitive, computing) To make unavailable, as by removing the last remaining pointer or reference to.

Anagrams

• harp on

Source: Wiktionary

Or"phan, n. Etym: [L. orphanus, Gr. orbus. Cf. Orb a blank window.]

Definition: A child bereaved of both father and mother; sometimes, also, a child who has but one parent living. Orphans' court (Law), a court in some of the States of the Union, having jurisdiction over the estates and persons of orphans or other wards. Bouvier.

Or"phan, a.

Definition: Bereaved of parents, or (sometimes) of one parent.

Or"phan, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Orphaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Orphaning.]

Definition: To cause to become an orphan; to deprive of parents. Young.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition