astray

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   Away from the correct path, place, or direction.

   The letter went astray in the post and never arrived.

2. 2
   adv

   Away from what is right or good, into error or wrongdoing.

   He blamed his new friends for leading him astray.

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”).

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