or•phanˈɔr fən(n.)

1. a child who has lost both parents or, less commonly, one parent through death.

2. a young animal that is without its mother.

3. a person or thing that is without protective affiliation, sponsorship, etc.

4. (esp. in word processing) the first line of a paragraph when it appears alone at the bottom of a printed page.

   Category: Printing

   Ref: Compare widow (def. 3b). 3 2

5. (adj.)bereft of parents.

6. of or for orphans.

7. (v.t.)to cause to become an orphan.

Origin of orphan:

1425–75; late ME < LL orphanus destitute, without parents < Gk orphanós bereaved; akin to L orbus bereaved

or′phan•hood`(n.)