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foundling
noun
found·ling
ˈfau̇n(d)-liŋ
: an infant found after its unknown parents have abandoned it
Examples of foundling in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Clementine seems a foundling in need of any stable influence, while in her spookily near-complete isolation (there’s no hint of contact with friends or family), Kelly-Anne could use a little basic humanizing.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Sep. 2024
Clark, a foundling, born Kal-El, famous as Superman, has lost his memory more than once and regularly comes face to face with, and sometimes fist to fist with, perverse reflections or imitations of himself.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2021
At the start of the poem, the narrator describes the career of Scyld Scefing, a foundling who establishes a kingdom in Denmark and is given a splendid burial at sea.
—Irina Dumitrescu, The New York Review of Books, 17 Nov. 2020
Joseph Svec, the foundling in question, never seems to have been very curious about his biological family.
—Jonathan M. Pitts, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2020
Sally Hawkins is Elisa, the mute janitor who, we’re told, was rescued from a river as a foundling.
—Michael Phillips, idahostatesman, 25 Dec. 2017
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Word History
Etymology
Middle English fundelyng, foundlynge, from funde, founde, founden (past participle of finden "to find entry 1") + -lyng, -lynge -ling entry 1
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of foundling was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near foundling
Cite this Entry
“Foundling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foundling. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
foundling
noun
found·ling
ˈfau̇n-(d)liŋ
: an infant found after being abandoned by unknown parents
Medical Definition
foundling
noun
found·ling
ˈfau̇n-(d)liŋ
: an infant found after its unknown parents have abandoned it
More from Merriam-Webster on foundling
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for foundling
Nglish: Translation of foundling for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of foundling for Arabic Speakers
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