Crossword Genius

Did they stray from the orphanage? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

waifs

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'did they' is the definition.
The definition and answer are not the same part of speech.

'stray from the orphanage?' is the wordplay.
'stray' becomes 'waif' (I've seen this in another clue).
'from' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'the orphanage?' becomes 's' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'waif'+'s'='WAIFS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for waifs that I've seen before include "Strays" , "Forsaken children" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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