"waif" Definition

Definitions for the word "waif" from multiple English dictionaries.

1. n.
Goods found of which the owner is not known; originally, such goods as a pursued thief threw away to prevent being apprehended, which belonged to the king unless the owner made pursuit of the felon, took him, and brought him to justice.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. n.
Hence, anything found, or without an owner; that which comes along, as it were, by chance.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. n.
A wanderer; a castaway; a stray; a homeless child.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. n.
1 homeless and helpless person, esp. An abandoned child. 2 ownerless object or animal. [anglo-french, probably from scandinavian]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884

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Additional Info
This page provides a list of definitions and meanings for "waif" from various historical English dictionaries. By displaying multiple definitions, you can compare and contrast different meanings and nuances of a word, phrase, or slang. You can also see the changes in meaning of "waif" over time by viewing the definitions from different dictionaries published at different times in history. The page also includes other information to help users expand their vocabulary and understand the context of the word.

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