astray
[ uh-strey ]
/ əˈstreɪ /
adverb, adjective
out of the right way; off the correct or known road, path, or route: Despite specific instructions, they went astray and got lost.
away from that which is right; into error, confusion, or undesirable action or thought: They were led astray by their lust for money.
QUIZZES
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We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
Origin of astray
1250–1300; Middle English astraye<Anglo-French *astraié,Old French estraié, past participle of estraier;see stray
Words nearby astray
astrakhan, astral, astral body, Astrangia, astraphobia, astray, Streetcar Named Desire, A, astrict, astriction, Astrid, astride
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for astray
astray
/ (əˈstreɪ) /
adjective, adverb (postpositive)
out of the correct path or direction
out of the right, good, or expected way; into error
Word Origin for astray
C13: from Old French estraie roaming, from estraier to stray
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Idioms and Phrases with astray
astray
see best-laid plans go astray; go astray.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.