waif
What does "waif" mean?
A "waif" is a person, typically a child or a young woman, who appears thin, fragile, and perhaps a bit lost or neglected. The mental image is of a stray animal or a wanderer with a vulnerable, delicate appearance that evokes a sense of pity or protectiveness in the observer. The word is often used in a literary or aesthetic context. While it can literally describe a homeless or abandoned person, it is frequently used to describe a specific "look"—often associated with high fashion—that emphasizes slenderness and a delicate, almost ethereal quality. It is rarely used in casual conversation to describe an average person.
"waif" in conversation
Discussing a film character
She has that classic waif look, doesn't she?
She has that classic waif look, doesn't she?
Yeah, she seems so fragile, like she might blow away in the wind.
Yeah, she seems so fragile, like she might blow away in the wind.
Used to describe a character's delicate physical appearance.
Reading a novel
The author described the protagonist as a waif wandering the city streets.
The author described the protagonist as a waif wandering the city streets.
That sounds like a very lonely image.
That sounds like a very lonely image.
Used in a literary context to convey vulnerability and abandonment.
"waif" in a sentence
The little waif shivered in the cold alleyway.
The little waif shivered in the cold alleyway.
She was a delicate waif with large, expressive eyes that seemed to plead for kindness.
She was a delicate waif with large, expressive eyes that seemed to plead for kindness.
The fashion industry of the nineties famously popularized the waif aesthetic, prioritizing a thin, unadorned silhouette.
The fashion industry of the nineties famously popularized the waif aesthetic, prioritizing a thin, unadorned silhouette.
