verwaist
Translation
orphaned, deserted, abandoned
Examples
Das verwaiste Kind kam in ein Heim.
The orphaned child was sent to a home.
Die Straße wirkte am Abend verwaist.
The street seemed deserted in the evening.
Grammar Patterns
predicatively sth. is orphaned/deserted The street seemed deserted.
attributively an orphaned/deserted ... the orphaned child
Similar Words
verlassen (abandoned), elternlos (parentless), menschenleer (deserted)
Etymology
Derived from 'die Waise' (the orphan). The prefix 'ver-' indicates a change of state, so 'to become an orphan'.
Memory Tips
Connect 'verwaist' directly to 'Waise' (orphan). The 'ver-' prefix shows the process of becoming one. It can also describe a place that is empty, as if its people have disappeared.