Etymology Explorer › Old French

Where does “orfelin” come from?

orfelin (Old French) comes from Old French orfenin, from Old French orfene, from Latin orphănus, from Ancient Greek ὀρφανός, from Proto-Indo-European h₃órbʰos, from Proto-Indo-European h₃erbʰ- — to change allegiance, status, ownership;...

orfelin (Old French): orphan

Definitions

  1. orphan

Ancestry of “orfelin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchorfeninorphan
2Old Frenchorfene—
3Latinorphănus—
4Ancient Greekὀρφανόςleft orphan, without parents; childless;...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃órbʰosorphan; servant, slave, worker
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃erbʰ-to change allegiance, status, ownership;...

Words derived from “orfelin”

  • orpheline
  • orpheline
  • orphelin
  • orphelinat
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃erbʰ- →