I. ˈȯr-fən noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin orphanus, from Greek orphanos; akin to Old High German erbi inheritance, Latin orbus orphaned
Date: 15th century
1. : a child deprived by death of one or usually both parents
2. : a young animal that has lost its mother
3. : one deprived of some protection or advantage
orphan s of the storm
• orphan adjective
• or·phan·hood -ˌhu̇d noun
II. transitive verb
( or·phaned ; or·phan·ing ˈȯr-fə-niŋ, ˈȯrf-niŋ)
Date: 1814
: to cause to become an orphan