waif (noun)

См. также в других словарях:

• waif — ► NOUN ▪ a homeless and helpless person, especially a neglected or abandoned child. DERIVATIVES waifish adjective. ORIGIN originally in waif and stray, denoting a piece of property found and, if unclaimed, falling to the lord of the manor: from… …   English terms dictionary

• waif — noun a homeless and helpless person, especially a neglected or abandoned child. ↘a person who appears thin or poorly nourished. Derivatives waifish adjective waiflike adjective Word History Waif comes from Old Northern French gaif, which was… …   English new terms dictionary

• waif — noun (C) 1 someone who is pale and thin, especially a child, and looks as if they do not have a home: a grubby little waif huddled by the door | waif like (=very thin): teenage girls trying to emulate waif like fashion models 2 waifs and strays… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

• waif´like´ — waif «wayf», noun, adjective. –n. 1. a person without home or friends, especially a homeless or neglected child. SYNONYM(S): foundling. 2. anything without an owner; stray thing or animal. SYNONYM(S): estray. 3. Nautical. waft2. 4. Obs …   Useful english dictionary

• waif and stray — noun Strayed property (see n above) • • • Main Entry: ↑waif …   Useful english dictionary

• waif — noun A wanderer; a castaway; a stray; a homeless child. Tenderly Kala nursed her little waif, wondering silently why it did not gain strength and agility as did the little apes of other mothers. It was nearly a year from the time the little… …   Wiktionary

• waif — [ weıf ] noun count a person, especially a child, who is thin and pale and looks as if they need to be taken care of a. a child who has no home waifs and strays BRITISH children or animals that do not have homes …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

• waif — noun a homeless waif Syn: ragamuffin, urchin; foundling, orphan, stray; derogatory guttersnipe; dated gamin …   Thesaurus of popular words

• Waif — The word waif (from the Old French guaif , stray beast)Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/waif (accessed: June 02, 2008)] refers to a living creature removed, by hardship, loss or other… …   Wikipedia

• waif — I. noun Etymology: Middle English weif, waif, from Anglo French, from waif, adjective, stray, unclaimed, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse veif something flapping, veifa to be in movement more at wipe Date: 14th century 1. a. a… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

• waif — UK [weɪf] / US noun [countable] Word forms waif : singular waif plural waifs a) a person, especially a child, who is thin and pale and looks as if they need to be looked after b) a child who has no home • waifs and strays …   English dictionary