astray
astray Lexical Profile
astray Game Scores & Validity
• adverb
Away from the correct path, direction, or destination.
"The hikers wandered astray when dense fog covered the mountain trail."
Into error, confusion, or morally questionable behavior.
"The inexperienced investors were led astray by promises of guaranteed returns."
• adjective
Out of the correct or expected place; missing or misplaced.
"Several important financial documents seem to be astray after the office move."
Wandering away from the proper path, moral standard, or truth; in error.
"His calculations were completely astray due to a simple clerical error."
Word Nuance & Usage
As an adjective, 'astray' is used exclusively in the predicate position (following a linking verb, as in 'the letter went astray') and cannot be placed directly before a noun.
• Rhymes for astray
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French 'estraié', past participle of 'estraier' (to wander about), ultimately from Vulgar Latin '*extravagare' (to wander outside bounds).