astray

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   away from the right path or direction

   I was led astray.

2. 2
   adv

   Away from the proper path; in a wrong or unknown direction.

   Go, set the storm-winds free, / And sink their ships or scatter them astray, / And strew their corpses forth, to weltering waves a prey.

3. 3
   adv

   far from the intended target

4. 4
   adv

   Away from what is right and good; into error or evil.

Etymology

From Middle English astraien or by apheresis straien, from Old French estraier (“to stray”), from late Medieval Latin extravagari (“to wander beyond”), from Latin extra (“beyond”) + vagārī (“to wander, stray”).