Life in society involves constant interaction with other people. And every time there is an opportunity to hear a new original characteristic addressed to you. Some will seem neutral, others play the role of praise, and still others are completely indecent! But how to perceive the situation when an involuntary “homeless child” escapes from the lips of the interlocutor? This sounds dubious, but is considered rude only in rare cases. To better understand, you need to study the etymology of the word.
From Stare
Anyone who is minimally interested in the Russian language will easily point to the original "to despise". Here, an erroneous interpretation sometimes arises as a synonym for "to despise", because both concepts come from the Old Russian mind. In modern Eastern European cultures, you can easily find similar-sounding definitions that translate:
- watch;
- look;
- see.
The prefix plays the main role. In the case of a pre-human, it is as if looking over his head, from above, which clearly humiliates the dignity of those around him. But inthe pair with has other meanings:
- keep an eye;
- keep an eye on.
Here the context centers around ideas of care and upbringing.
From a bad life
Why do many get offended when they hear such a word? Depends on the personal experience of a particular person, also "homeless child" is an insult in one of its figurative meanings. Although the basic indicates, unfortunately, a mundane situation:
- a child or teenager left without the care of parents and relatives;
- he's a homeless person living on the street.
Definition includes ordinary orphans and vagrants. However, if someone wishes to offend the interlocutor, he will slightly change the interpretation and point to insufficient supervision of the younger generation. Then there is a rapprochement with the "tear off, bully", if they talk directly with a young man or a girl. Or is it a frank allusion to non-fulfillment of parental responsibilities, bad upbringing, when discussing with guardians.
From forgetful hosts
In parallel, there is an allegory that does not affect children at all. This waif is abstract and often inanimate:
- no man's thing, ownerless;
- something forgotten, thrown away.
Street cats with dogs is the best example of this meaning. But the list includes any items in general:
- report that no one takes;
- old car in garage;
- forgotten grandmother's house, etc.
They all have their own wayhomeless children living in oblivion due to someone's laziness, shortsightedness or lack of time.
On behalf of contemporaries
Each of the presented meanings is relevant. But more often in news releases and in conversations, it is abandoned children who suffer because of adults who are always busy with their own problems. Try to avoid the term, because for the younger generation it sounds like “unnecessary”, and for the older one it sounds like a synonym for “bad (parent, educator, etc.)”. Try to pay more attention to others so that neither things nor people are left alone!
