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# fatherless

adjective (fatherless)

«fatherless» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Fatherless means without a father, because he has died, left or is not known. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fatherless/#m1)
2. In old writing, «the fatherless» means children without fathers, often named with widows as people to care for. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fatherless/#m2)

### In the lessons

Stories and family lessons; the Bible often asks people to care for «the widow and the fatherless». Families come in many shapes, and children without a father at home can have very happy lives. Phrases: fatherless child, the fatherless.

### Examples

- In the story, the fatherless boy was raised by his grandmother. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fatherless/#x1)
- The charity helps fatherless children with school costs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fatherless/#x2)
- (Bible) The psalm says God defends the fatherless. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fatherless/#x3)
- Being fatherless did not stop her becoming a great scientist. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fatherless/#x4)
- Many famous people grew up fatherless. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fatherless/#x5)
- The village looked after the fatherless family. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fatherless/#x6)

### Note

A sensitive word; in class use kindly. Similar: motherless, parentless, orphan (without both parents, usually). The suffix -less means without.

## In Jewish tradition

It means orphans, who are listed with widows and strangers as people needing special protection.

**Interpretation.** Tradition teaches that God is the father of orphans. Caring for the weak is a duty, and God is said to hear their cry.

### Examples

- Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. (Torah EXO.22.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fatherless/#x1)
- Cursed be he that perverteth the justice due to the stranger, fatherless, and widow. (Torah DEU.27.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fatherless/#x2)
- He doth execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. (Torah DEU.10.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fatherless/#x3)
- Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. (Writings PSA.109.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fatherless/#x4)
- They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. (Writings PSA.94.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fatherless/#x5)
- We are become orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows. (Writings LAM.5.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fatherless/#x6)

### Note

A sensitive word; in class use kindly. Similar: motherless, parentless, orphan (without both parents, usually). The suffix -less means without.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «fatherless» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fatherless/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«fatherless» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fatherless.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «fatherless» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fatherless/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«fatherless» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/fatherless.html) on Mova free.