Orphan

:For alternative meanings of the word orphan, see Orphan (disambiguation).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

An orphan (from the Greek ορφανός) is a person (or animal), one or both of whose parents have died. Common usage limits the term to children, (or the young of animals) who have lost both parents. On this basis half-orphans are those with one surviving parent.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In certain animal species where the father typically abandons the mother and child at or prior to birth, the child will be called an orphan when the mother dies regardless of the condition of the father.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~