Waif: meaning, definitions and examples
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waif
[ weɪf ]
lost child
A waif is a child who has no home or friends and who is often hungry or in need of help.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She was a waif, with no family to take care of her.
- The authorities found a waif wandering the streets alone.
thin and fragile person
A waif can also refer to a person, especially a young woman, who is thin and delicate in appearance.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She looked like a waif, with her pale skin and slender frame.
- The model had the waif-like beauty that was popular in the fashion industry.
Translations
Translations of the word "waif" in other languages:
🇵🇹 criança abandonada
🇮🇳 परित्यक्त बच्चा
🇩🇪 verlassenes Kind
🇮🇩 anak terlantar
🇺🇦 покинута дитина
🇵🇱 porzucone dziecko
🇯🇵 捨て子
🇫🇷 enfant abandonné
🇪🇸 niño abandonado
🇹🇷 terk edilmiş çocuk
🇰🇷 버려진 아이
🇸🇦 طفل مهجور
🇨🇿 opustěné dítě
🇸🇰 opustené dieťa
🇨🇳 被遗弃的孩子
🇸🇮 zapustljen otrok
🇮🇸 yfirgefið barn
🇰🇿 тасталмаған бала
🇬🇪 მიტოვებული ბავშვი
🇦🇿 tərk edilmiş uşaq
🇲🇽 niño abandonado
Word origin
The word 'waif' originated in the 14th century from the Old French word 'waif', meaning 'unclaimed property'. Over time, the term evolved to also refer to a homeless or abandoned person, especially a child. In literature, the concept of the 'waif' has been romanticized, often portraying a character who is vulnerable and in need of protection.