fatherless

adjective

fa·​ther·​less -lə̇s 

1

a

: having no father

especially : having no father living

a quiet, thoughtful little lad with the man-of-the-house air of responsibility sometimes worn by fatherless only sons

—Flora Thompson

b

: illegitimate

2

: having no known author

fatherlessness noun

plural -es

Word History

Etymology

Middle English faderles, from Old English fæderlēas, from fæder father + -lēas -less

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