waif

[ weyf ]

/ weɪf /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR waif ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person, especially a child, who has no home or friends.

something found, especially a stray animal, whose owner is not known.

a very thin, often small person, usually a young woman.

a stray item or article: to gather waifs of gossip.

Nautical. waft (def. 8).

Origin of waif

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, originally “lost, stray (animal), unclaimed (property)” (compare Old French guaif “stray beast”), from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse veif “movement to and fro, something waving, flag”; see waive

Words nearby waif

Wahpeton, wah-wah, wai, Waianae Mountains, waiata, waif, Waikaremoana, Waikato, Waikiki, wail, wailful

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for waif

The waif's recklessness and audacity were to him only evidences of so much brains and energy.
Tom Grogan|F. Hopkinson Smith
Thus it came to pass that in the pursuit of game, our little savage became a “waif and stray.”
Personal Reminiscences in Book Making|R.M. Ballantyne
It is but a waif on the ocean of commerce—the jetsam and flotsam, of which the law must direct the disposal.
The Arena|Various
And then Alan Hawke spoke truly to the waif of Destiny, whom chance had thrown in his way.
A Fascinating Traitor|Richard Henry Savage

Indeed, his mind dwelt more upon the defeated and desperate man beside him than upon the waif he was searching for.
Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society|Edith Van Dyne

British Dictionary definitions for waif

waif

/ (weɪf) /

noun

a person, esp a child, who is homeless, friendless, or neglected

anything found and not claimed, the owner being unknown

nautical another name for waft (def. 5)

law obsolete a stolen article thrown away by a thief in his flight and forfeited to the Crown or to the lord of the manor

Derived forms of waif

waiflike, adjective

Word Origin for waif

C14: from Anglo-Norman, variant of Old Northern French gaif, of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse veif a flapping thing

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

单词	waif
释义	waif [ weyf ] / weɪf / SEE SYNONYMS FOR waif ON THESAURUS.COM noun a person, especially a child, who has no home or friends. something found, especially a stray animal, whose owner is not known. a very thin, often small person, usually a young woman. a stray item or article: to gather waifs of gossip. Nautical. waft (def. 8). Origin of waif First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, originally “lost, stray (animal), unclaimed (property)” (compare Old French guaif “stray beast”), from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse veif “movement to and fro, something waving, flag”; see waive Words nearby waif Wahpeton, wah-wah, wai, Waianae Mountains, waiata, waif, Waikaremoana, Waikato, Waikiki, wail, wailful Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for waif The waif's recklessness and audacity were to him only evidences of so much brains and energy. Tom Grogan\|F. Hopkinson Smith Thus it came to pass that in the pursuit of game, our little savage became a “waif and stray.” Personal Reminiscences in Book Making\|R.M. Ballantyne It is but a waif on the ocean of commerce—the jetsam and flotsam, of which the law must direct the disposal. The Arena\|Various And then Alan Hawke spoke truly to the waif of Destiny, whom chance had thrown in his way. A Fascinating Traitor\|Richard Henry Savage Indeed, his mind dwelt more upon the defeated and desperate man beside him than upon the waif he was searching for. Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society\|Edith Van Dyne British Dictionary definitions for waif waif / (weɪf) / noun a person, esp a child, who is homeless, friendless, or neglected anything found and not claimed, the owner being unknown nautical another name for waft (def. 5) law obsolete a stolen article thrown away by a thief in his flight and forfeited to the Crown or to the lord of the manor Derived forms of waif waiflike, adjective Word Origin for waif C14: from Anglo-Norman, variant of Old Northern French gaif, of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse veif a flapping thing Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Words related to waif castaway, stray, ragamuffin, urchin, foundling, drop, orphan, flotsam, fetch, jetsam, dogie
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waif

noun

Origin of waif

Words nearby waif

Example sentences from the Web for waif

British Dictionary definitions for waif

noun

Derived forms of waif

Word Origin for waif

Words related to waif