Foundling

C1 16+

Pronunciation: /ˈfaʊndlɪŋ/

Definitions of foundling

noun a child who has been abandoned and found without any identification

Example Sentences

A1 The foundling was left on the doorstep of the orphanage.

A2 The kind woman took in the foundling and raised him as her own.

B1 The search for the foundling's birth parents led to surprising revelations.

B2 The foundling grew up to become a successful entrepreneur despite his difficult start in life.

C1 The foundling's mysterious origins sparked intense interest among genealogists and historians.

C2 The identity of the foundling remained a closely guarded secret, known only to a select few.

adjective relating to a foundling or foundlings

Example Sentences

A1 The foundling kitten was taken in by a kind family.

A2 The villagers were surprised to find a foundling child abandoned at the church steps.

B1 The foundling dog was adopted from the shelter and given a new home.

B2 The story of the foundling prince captivated the kingdom.

C1 The foundling manuscript was discovered in the depths of the library archives.

C2 The foundling artifact was believed to be a lost treasure from ancient times.

Examples of foundling in a Sentence

formal The orphanage took in a foundling who was left on their doorstep.

informal The town rallied together to support the foundling they found abandoned in the park.

slang Hey, did you hear about that baby foundling that was left at the fire station?

figurative The new employee felt like a foundling in the corporate world, trying to find their place among experienced colleagues.

Grammatical Forms of foundling

past tense

found

plural

foundlings

comparative

more foundling

superlative

most foundling

present tense

find

future tense

will find

perfect tense

have found

continuous tense

is finding

singular

foundling

positive degree

foundling

infinitive

to find

gerund

finding

participle

found

Origin and Evolution of foundling

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Middle English
Story behind the word: The word 'foundling' originated from the Middle English term 'foundling', which was derived from the Old French word 'enfant trouvé' meaning 'found child'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to a child found abandoned or orphaned, the term 'foundling' has evolved to encompass any abandoned or orphaned individual, regardless of age. The word has also taken on a more compassionate connotation, emphasizing the care and support needed for foundlings.