| 释义 |
View usage for: (weɪf) Word forms: plural waifscountable nounIf you refer to a child or young woman as a waif, you mean that they are very thin and look as if they have nowhere to live. ...a dirty-faced waif of some five or six years. Synonyms: stray, orphan, outcast, urchin [old-fashioned] More Synonyms of waif (weɪf) noun1. a person, esp a child, who is homeless, friendless, or neglected 2. anything found and not claimed, the owner being unknown 3. nautical another name for waft (sense 5) 4. law obsolete a stolen article thrown away by a thief during flight and forfeited to the Crown or to the lord of the manor Derived forms waiflike (ˈwaifˌlike) or waifish (ˈwaifish) adjective Word origin C14: from Anglo-Norman, variant of Old Northern French gaif, of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse veif a flapping thing (weɪf) noun1. anything found by chance that is without an owner 2. a person without home or friends; esp., a homeless child 5. Lawa. a piece of property found but claimed by nobody b. [pl.]; Obsolete stolen goods discarded by a thief in flight Word origin ME < NormFr, prob. < ON veif, anything flapping about < veifa, to wave, swing < IE * weip-, to turn, var. of * weib- > L vibrare, to vibrate Examples of 'waif' in a sentencewaif Definition a person, esp. a child, who is, or who looks as if he or she might be, homeless or neglected an emaciated waif living rough on the streets Additional synonymsDefinition an abandoned baby whose parents are not known Synonyms orphan, stray, outcast, waifDefinition a mischievous child We were in the bazaar with all the little urchins watching us. Synonyms ragamuffin, waif, guttersnipe, brat, mudlark (slang), gamin, young rogue - wager
- waggish
- waggle
- waif
- wail
- wait
- wait a minute
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