Orphan

views updated Jun 27 2018

481. Orphan (See also Abandonment.)

  1. Adverse, Anthony finally, at middle age, discovers origins. [Am. Lit.: Anthony Adverse ]
  2. Carey, Philip brought up by stingy uncle and kindly aunt. [Br. Lit.: Of Human Bondage, Magill I, 670672]
  3. Cass, Eppie child found and brought up by Silas Marner. [Br. Lit.: Eliot Silas Marner in Benét, 930]
  4. Clickett the orfling from St. Lukes workhouse; Mrs. Micawbers maid-of-all-work. [Br. Lit.: David Copperfield ]
  5. Cosette waif indentured to the cruel Thenardiers; saved by the honorable Valjean. [Fr. Lit.: Les Miserables ]
  6. Dondi Italian war baby taken in by Americans. [Comics: Horn, 217]
  7. Finn, Huckleberry his mother dead; his father dies toward end of novel. [Am. Lit.: Huckleberry Finn ]
  8. Little Orphan Annie feisty waif succored by paternal Daddy Warbucks. [Comics: Horn, 459]
  9. Luck, Thomas infant adopted by miners when his prostitute mother dies. [Am. Lit.: Bret Harte The Luck of Roaring Camp in Magill III, 597]
  10. Pip Philip Pirrip, orphaned as an infant. [Br. Lit.: Great Expectations ]
  11. Twist, Oliver foundling reared in school of hard knocks. [Br. Lit.: Oliver Twist ]

orphan

views updated May 14 2018

or·phan / ˈôrfən/ • n. 1. a child whose parents are dead. ∎  a person or thing bereft of protection, position, etc.: radioactive wastes are the main orphan of the nuclear era.2. Printing the first line of a paragraph set as the last line of a page or column, considered undesirable.• v. [tr.] (usu. be orphaned) make (a person or animal) an orphan: John was orphaned at 12.• adj. denoting, of, or for an orphan or orphans. ∎  bereft of protection, position, etc.: orphan garbage barges aimlessly wandering the oceans.DERIVATIVES: or·phan·hood / -ˌhoŏd/ n.

orphan

views updated May 18 2018

orphan (one) deprived of parents. XV. — late L. orphanus — Gr. orphanós, rel. to L. orbus bereft, Arm. orb orphan.
Hence vb. XIX.