to become an orphan

  • 1orphan — [ôr′fən] n. [LL(Ec) orphanus < Gr orphanos < IE base * orbho , orphan > L orbus, bereft, Ger erbe, inheritance, arbeit, work, Czech robotnik, serf] a child whose father and mother are dead: sometimes applied to a child who has lost only… …

    English World dictionary

  • 2Orphan — Or phan, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Orphaned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Orphaning}.] To cause to become an orphan; to deprive of parents. Young. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3orphan — or|phan1 [ˈo:fən US ˈo:r ] n [Date: 1300 1400; : Late Latin; Origin: orphanus, from Greek orphanos] a child whose parents are both dead ▪ The war has left thousands of children as orphans. orphan girl/boy/child ▪ a poor little orphan girl orphan… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 4orphan — I. 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 …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 5orphan — [ˈɔːf(ə)n] noun [C] I a child whose parents have died II verb orphan [ˈɔːf(ə)n] be orphaned to become an orphan[/ex] …

    Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • 6orphan — 1 noun (C) a child whose parents are both dead: the plight of thousands of war orphans 2 verb be orphaned to become an orphan: She was orphaned when her parents died in a plane crash …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 7orphan — or•phan [[t]ˈɔr fən[/t]] n. 1) a child who has lost both parents or, less commonly, one parent through death 2) a young animal that is without its mother 3) a person or thing that is without protective affiliation, sponsorship, etc 4) pri (esp.… …

    From formal English to slang

  • 8Orphan's Benefit — Mickey Mouse series Donald Duck follows Mickey Mouse on stage in their first joint appearance Directed by …

    Wikipedia

  • 9Orphan at My Door —   …

    Wikipedia

  • 10Orphan initialism — is the changing of the official name of a corporation, advocacy group or any organization to an acronym or initialism. [1] Formed like any other acronym, the initial letters of the previous name are used. Such name changes are often connected to… …

    Wikipedia