Foundling - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A foundling is an abandoned child whose parents are unknown. The term is often used in historical or literary contexts to describe infants left to be discovered and cared for by others.
Definition:
An infant abandoned by its parents and discovered by others.
Synonyms:
orphan, waif, stray, castaway
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
parented child, biological offspring
Common Collocations:
abandoned foundling, care for a foundling, adopt a foundling
Derivatives:
foundlings (plural), foundlinghood (rare)
Usage Tips:
Use "foundling" to describe a child abandoned at birth and later found by strangers.
Common Phrases:
foundling hospital, left like a foundling, raised as a foundling
Etymology:
From Middle English "foundeling," combining "found" (past participle of "find") and "-ling" (denoting someone belonging to a group).
Examples:
- 1. The kind couple adopted the foundling left on their doorstep.
- 2. The orphanage specialized in caring for foundlings with no known relatives.
- 3. She wrote a novel about a mysterious foundling raised in secrecy.
- 4. Historians studied records of 18th-century foundlings to understand social trends.