WAIFING

WAIF

Waif, n. Etym: [OF. waif, gaif, as adj., lost, unclaimed, chose gaive a waif, LL. wayfium, res vaivae; of Scand. origin. See Waive.]

1. (Eng. Law.)

Definition: Goods found of which the owner is not known; originally, such goods as a pursued thief threw away to prevent being apprehended, which belonged to the king unless the owner made pursuit of the felon, took him, and brought him to justice. Blackstone.

2. Hence, anything found, or without an owner; that which comes along, as it were, by chance. "Rolling in his mind old waifs of rhyme." Tennyson.

3. A wanderer; a castaway; a stray; a homeless child. A waif Desirous to return, and not received. Cowper.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

26 September 2024

ACETAMINOPHEN

(noun) an analgesic for mild pain but not for inflammation; also used as an antipyretic; (Datril, Tylenol, Panadol, Phenaphen, Tempra, and Anacin III are trademarks of brands of acetaminophen tablets)


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Coffee is the second largest traded commodity in the world, next to crude oil. It’s also one of the oldest commodities, with over 2.25 billion cups of coffee consumed worldwide daily.

coffee icon