What does waif mean?

THE LATEST Marilyn Monroe documentary features previously unreleased audio recordings from the starlet and those closest to her, some of which refer to Marilyn as a "waif."

On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes premiered on Netflix.

What does waif mean?

Throughout her life, Marilyn Monroe and those around her referred to the model and actress as a "waif."

"I'm not calling myself an orphan," Marilyn states in one of the tapes played in the documentary.

"I was brought up a waif."

She continued: "Yeah, I was never used to being happy."

The word waif is formally defined as "a person, especially a child, who has no home or friends," per .

While growing up, Marilyn lived in and out of foster homes and spent two years in an orphanage.

Her mother was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, leaving Marilyn under the care of a guardian.

Dr Ralph Greenson, Marilyn's personal psychiatrist, referred to the starlet as a "woman who was deprived of childhood."

Alternate uses of the word waif include reference to a stray animal or a small and thin woman.

What is the origin of the word waif?

The word waif traces back to around 1350 to 1400 CE.

It is of Middle English and Anglo-French origin, initially used to describe a lost animal or property.

What is The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes about?

Marilyn Monroe tragically died, aged 36 years old, from an overdose of barbiturates on August 4, 1962.

Since news of her death went public, conspiracy theories about the possibility of murder have shrouded the star's final hours.

"Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe's tragic death spawned conspiracies and rumors for decades, often overshadowing her talent and shrewdness," reads the YouTube description for the documentary's .

"By piecing together her final weeks, days, and hours through previously unheard recordings of those who knew her best, the film illuminates more of her glamorous, complicated life, and offers a new perspective on that fateful night."