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# waif

noun (a waif, waifs)

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

## Everyday

1. A waif is a homeless, neglected child or animal, often thin and with nobody to care for it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/waif/#m1)
2. (informal) A waif is a very thin, pale, delicate-looking person. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/waif/#m2)

### In the lessons

In Victorian stories and history, waifs were poor orphans living on the streets, like the children Dr Barnardo helped. The phrase «waifs and strays» means homeless children or lost animals. In The Wind in the Willows Rat and Mole search for the lost baby otter, a little waif. The word makes the reader feel pity.

### Examples

- The kind woman took in the little waif. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/waif/#x1)
- Victorian cities had many waifs living on the streets. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/waif/#x2)
- «Waifs and strays» are lost children or animals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/waif/#x3)
- The kitten was a thin little waif when we found it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/waif/#x4)
- The story is about a waif who finds a home. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/waif/#x5)
- She looked like a waif in her big coat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/waif/#x6)
- He then carried him to the king, his master, who, pitying the poor little waif, enlisted for him the kind offices of his wife, Merope. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/waif/#x7)

### Note

Countable. Sounds like «waive» (to give up a right) — a homophone. Do not mix up with «wife».

## On Mova

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